The Public Protector's preliminary findings into food safety failures in Gauteng spaza shops reveal alarming conditions that contributed to at least 23 child deaths from suspected food poisoning in 2024.

Inspectors uncovered rodent infestations, food stored directly on the ground, and the presence of Aldicarb—a highly toxic rat poison—on food premises.Compliance rates across municipalities are critically low, with Ekurhuleni at 5%, Johannesburg at 14%, and Tshwane at 30%.The report highlights that for every licensed spaza shop, nearly three unlicensed ones operate illegally.Gauteng's municipalities are understaffed, with less than 30% of required environmental health practitioners.While the findings are damning, they focus only on the final stretch of the supply chain, potentially leading to misdirected policy responses.

The investigation's terms of reference limited its scope to local government enforcement, neglecting upstream factors like supplier accountability and regulatory oversight.This oversight risks addressing symptoms rather than root causes, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach to food safety governance.