Motsoaledi identifies chemical linked to food poisoning cases and arrests 4 suspects
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that police have arrested four suspects related to the food poisoning case in Gauteng.
During a media briefing, Motsoaledi revealed that health officials have found a chemical connected to the suspected food poisoning cases.
The ANC is having a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, focusing on party renewal, integrity committee reports, and improving structures for better service delivery and national issues.
Motsoaledi stated that the recent food poisoning cases are considered a national security threat, following tragic incidents that led to the deaths of children and several hospitalisations in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
He expressed concern about harmful substances in food from the school feeding scheme and assured the public that authorities are committed to investigating these incidents thoroughly.
Earlier this month, six children in Soweto died after eating suspected contaminated treats from a spaza shop.
There are growing concerns in the community about foreign-owned spaza shops in townships selling unsafe and expired food.
Motsoaledi confirmed that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is looking into the increase in suspected food poisoning cases.
Health inspectors have checked 84 spaza shops in Soweto and found an undisclosed chemical, seizing over 1,456 grams (about 1.5 kg) of the substance.