In a determined effort to safeguard community health, the Ulundi Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal shut down several shops on Tuesday, suspected of selling contaminated food products linked to recent child illness cases. The swift action comes amid increasing concerns over food safety, following numerous reports of children in local schools falling ill after consuming possibly tainted snacks.
Coordinated Raids Target Local Stores
The raid, a joint effort involving the Ulundi Municipality, Zululand Environmental Health, and the South African Police Service (SAPS), focused on three primary stores—Royal Supermarket, the Family Store, and Kings Supermarket. Authorities seized several batches of Ayoba Biscuits, suspected of being the source of contamination. The biscuits were reportedly consumed by students in the Ezitendi area of Zimfabe, who subsequently showed symptoms of food poisoning severe enough to require hospitalisation.
This incident marks yet another alarming case of food poisoning among schoolchildren, a disturbing trend now affecting KwaZulu-Natal. Recently, 43 pupils from Ngaqa Primary School in Mtubatuba were hospitalised after eating suspected contaminated snacks. A further tragic incident occurred in Cabhane village, where three children from the Ndlovu family passed away following similar symptoms linked to foodborne illnesses.
Compliance Inspection Leads to License Suspensions
As part of the investigation, the Compliance Units from the Ulundi Municipality LED Compliancy and Facilities Unit, alongside SAPS and Zululand District Municipal Health Service, enforced a temporary suspension of licenses at implicated stores, including a closure notice for Kings Supermarket. Ulundi Municipality Mayor Wilson Ntshangase commended the hard work of the involved agencies, asserting that this operation marks the beginning of stringent health inspections across the district.
Ntshangase also highlighted upcoming regulatory changes, as the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, is set to sign legislation to strengthen oversight on local supermarkets and spaza shops. The revised laws aim to ensure stricter hygiene protocols in handling and selling food to the public, signalling a robust response to food safety concerns.
Municipality Sets High Standards for Food Safety
Ulundi Municipal Manager Sandile Khomo assured that future inspections will encompass a full-scale examination of food products in all local stores. “The economy of Ondini (Ulundi) needs to thrive, but not at the expense of our people’s lives. We will continue these inspections to enforce compliance,” Khomo stated. These actions are backed by the Business Act (Act 71 of 1991) and local Business Licensing and Administration By-Laws, providing a strong legal framework to address the public health risk posed by unsafe food products.
Conclusion
The municipality has stressed that this health initiative is ongoing, with further inspections expected to follow. This proactive approach, aimed at safeguarding residents and especially vulnerable schoolchildren, sets a precedent for other districts, emphasising the essential role of local governance in ensuring safe, compliant business practices. The Ulundi community, meanwhile, awaits further developments as authorities work to restore trust and ensure the safety of food products across the region.
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