“Cabinet was briefed on the food-borne illnesses and fatalities recorded in various parts of the country, which led to the deaths of children and resulted in several hospitalisations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
“Government has prioritised the matter and has escalated it to the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure for intervention. Government assures South Africans our health authorities are investigating this and other cases involving the deaths of young people as a result of suspected food poisoning. Anyone found responsible will be held accountable and prosecuted,” she said.
Ten of the deaths were reported in Gauteng and one in the Eastern Cape.
Ntshavheni did not entertain questions about cabinet's stance on ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s call for the closure of spaza shops, saying the president would speak about the matter.
TimesLIVE reported Mbalula wanted the government to close all spaza shops, have them register afresh and permanently close those without proper documentation.
Ramaphosa to address nation on food poisoning cases, says Ntshavheni
Image: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni/X
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on food poisoning cases after more than 10 children died due to poisoning in the past two months.
Briefing the media on Wednesday after the cabinet's meeting, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni could not confirm when the address would take place.
“There is work we are doing in the ministerial committees and justice cluster in preparation for the president’s address. The president will address [the nation] but I do not want to pre-empt as there is still work being done by [the] committees and the justice cluster,” she said.
Ntshavheni said the justice cluster would meet later on Wednesday to finalise government's response to the poisoning cases. matters.
“There is also work being done by the provinces. When all that work is incorporated in the joint effort, the president will be able to [make his] address. If we complete that work today [Wednesday], the president will be able to address the nation today or tomorrow [Thursday] — but he will address the nation this week.
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“Cabinet was briefed on the food-borne illnesses and fatalities recorded in various parts of the country, which led to the deaths of children and resulted in several hospitalisations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
“Government has prioritised the matter and has escalated it to the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure for intervention. Government assures South Africans our health authorities are investigating this and other cases involving the deaths of young people as a result of suspected food poisoning. Anyone found responsible will be held accountable and prosecuted,” she said.
Ten of the deaths were reported in Gauteng and one in the Eastern Cape.
Ntshavheni did not entertain questions about cabinet's stance on ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s call for the closure of spaza shops, saying the president would speak about the matter.
TimesLIVE reported Mbalula wanted the government to close all spaza shops, have them register afresh and permanently close those without proper documentation.
TimesLIVE
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