SOME Zimbabweans in South Africa have fallen victim to raids on spaza shops mostly owned by foreign nationals following incidents where children allegedly ate poisoned chips which left some dead and others hospitalised.
According to an infectious disease specialist from the University of Free State, the poisoning of food sold at spaza shops appears to be a deliberate ploy to discredit the informal tuckshops.
Indications are that South Africans are intensifying raids of foreign-owned shops while condemning the government for allowing undocumented migrants to run the shops.
Global Immigration and Legal Consultancy legal director Gabriel Shumba told NewsDay yesterday that a substantial number of Zimbabweans who were working in the shops, have fallen on hard times after the raids.
“Now the reports say some hidden hand is poisoning the staff so that foreign-owned spaza shops may be closed. Some Zimbabweans work in these shops. They also carry out informal trading,” Shumba said.
“Based on the recent raids on spaza shops and informal traders, many are now starved and squeezed to abject poverty.”
He said based on the facts on the ground, it would be unfair to blame the poisoning on migrants.
Sowetan Sunday World reported that infectious disease specialist from the University of Free State, Cloete van Vuuren, made the shocking disclosure following the death of yet another child in Soweto a week ago.
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Media reports state that five-year-old Siyabonga Mnisi died after allegedly consuming snacks from a foreign-owned spaza shop in Diepkloof, Soweto.
Van Vuuren told the media that blaming foreigners for the ongoing crisis and the government’s call for registration of spaza shops within 21 days will not solve the problem.
More than 20 children have died and at least 890 incidents linked to food-borne illnesses have been reported since September. Last month, six children died in Naledi, Soweto, after allegedly eating snacks bought from a spaza shop.
The South African government has revealed that the children were killed by a highly hazardous chemical used as a pesticide known as Terbufos, which is an organophosphate chemical that is registered for agricultural use which is not allowed to be sold for general household use.
The Zimbabwe Exiles' Forum programmes manager, Diana Chambara, yesterday said the recent spate of attacks on spaza shops by civilians were uncalled for and could lead to afrophobia.
“It also affects employment of some Zimbabweans who are employed as assistants and shopkeepers. Law enforcement should do what it needs to do when there are any issues regarding documents and licensing,” Chambara said.
“Allegations about the poisoning of foodstuffs are worrying and criminal. There should be a full investigation that brings those responsible to account if found true. We are assisting those affected by rendering legal aid when required.”
