Forum for South Africa calls for accountability over illegal spaza shops
Forum for South Africa calls for accountability over illegal spaza shops! The Forum for South Africa, a community-focused non-governmental organization, is calling for the South African government to be held legally accountable for allegedly allowing illegal spaza shops and tuck shops to operate unchecked, particularly in vulnerable communities.
This call to action follows a disturbing incident in Mapetla, Soweto, where an eight-year-old boy was recently hospitalised after reportedly consuming snacks purchased from an unlicensed tuck shop. The incident has reignited national concern about the safety standards of informal food vendors, especially those who operate outside the legal framework.
Child Hospitalised After Consuming Snack
The child, whose name has not been released, reportedly fell ill shortly after consuming a packet of snacks bought at a nearby tuck shop. The shop, according to early investigations, was operating without a valid permit and had not undergone any of the inspections typically required to ensure the quality and safety of its products.
This is not the first time that illegal spaza shops have been at the center of controversy in South Africa. There have been numerous past incidents involving the sale of expired or contaminated goods, leading to public outrage, yet enforcement remains inconsistent.
NGO Slams Government’s “Reactive” Approach
Tebogo Mashilompane, a spokesperson for the Forum for South Africa, expressed frustration over what he described as the government’s failure to act preemptively.
“Now that there is a new case of a child eating snacks from an illegal spaza shop, Minister Hlabisa is reacting to the issue instead of combatting it. What shocks us is that there are clear rules for spaza shop operators,” Mashilompane said.
He criticised politicians for waiting until tragedies occur before taking action, despite the existence of clear regulations that should already be enforced.
“Guidelines are there, and spaza owners continue to operate without licenses — and it’s business as usual. How many more children must suffer before we see accountability?” he asked.
A Widespread Problem
The issue of unregulated tuck shops and spaza shops is not isolated to Soweto. Across the country, many such establishments operate without proper licenses, health inspections, or registration. These businesses often serve low-income communities where access to supermarkets is limited, making them both vital and potentially dangerous.
Despite the Department of Health having clear protocols on the sale of consumable goods, many shops slip through the cracks due to a lack of monitoring, under-resourced municipalities, and corruption at the local level.
Demand for Legal Action
The Forum for South Africa has called for legal steps to be taken against municipalities that fail to regulate these shops, as well as action against spaza shop owners operating illegally.
Mashilompane says the forum is exploring legal avenues to hold government structures accountable, arguing that the failure to enforce existing laws amounts to negligence.
“This is not just about one child. It’s about a broken system that fails millions of South Africans every day. We are now looking into initiating a legal process that will compel the government to take this issue seriously,” he said.
Community Reaction and Next Steps
The incident has sparked outrage among Soweto residents, many of whom say they have long raised concerns about unsafe food practices in their neighbourhoods.
Community members are demanding immediate inspections of all tuck shops and spaza shops in the area, and for transparent communication from the authorities on the safety of goods being sold.
Meanwhile, the Forum for South Africa has pledged to continue engaging with communities, collecting reports, and applying pressure on the government to act — not just in response to tragedy, but to prevent further harm.
