Spaza shop deaths: 'The country has been let down'

Africa Melane interviews Sibusiso Ngcobo, Deputy Secretary and Head of Business Development for the South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association (Sasta).

Listen below.

Following a tragic incident in Naledi Soweto, where five children died after consuming snacks from local spaza shops, tensions in the community have reached boiling point.

The victims, aged between six and 10, passed away within minutes of one another.

In response, residents have shut down several spaza shops owned by foreign nationals, accusing them of selling expired food products.

"It's very painful."

- Sibusiso Ngcobo, South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association

Ngcobo says the system has failed South Africa and the affected families.

He emphasises that regardless of whether a shop is locally owned or operated by foreign nationals, it must comply with regulations regarding the proper handling and storage of food.

This is crucial to ensure that the products on store shelves are inspected, safe, and suitable for consumption.

Ngcobo says that Sasta has partnered with private sector companies to provide consumers with the ability to scan product barcodes using their phones, allowing them to verify whether the items are safe for consumption.

"It's one of our basic human rights."

- Sibusiso Ngcobo, South African Spaza and Tuckshop Association

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.

Spaza shop deaths: 'The country has been let down' – Spaza and Tuckshop Association

Five Soweto children have died after allegedly consuming spaza shop snacks.