A spaza shop in Soweto has been shut down following an incident in which an eight-year-old boy was admitted to intensive care after consuming suspected contaminated snacks from the store.
The child, identified as Omphile Molobela, purchased a maize snack from the shop on Saturday and shared it with his siblings. However, by the middle of the night, Omphile began vomiting severely, prompting his family to rush him to Chiawelo Clinic. Due to the severity of his condition, he was later transferred to the renowned Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
City of Johannesburg spokesperson, Virgil James, confirmed the incident and noted that health inspectors were dispatched to the spaza shop for an investigation. Upon inspection, it was found that the premises were non-compliant with pest control regulations, as the shop had not engaged a registered pest control service.
“The person in charge of the establishment claimed not to have used any illegal pest control methods, and no recent signs of rodent droppings or harmful residues were observed,” said James. Despite this, the premises have been temporarily closed for further investigation and necessary improvements.
The City of Johannesburg continues to monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety standards are upheld in local retail outlets.