In the wake of recent tragic deaths of children allegedly caused by consuming poisonous food, traditional healer John Sithole has called on all government departments to include traditional healers in their efforts to improve public health and food safety. Sithole, from Mathibestad in North West, believes that incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into government strategies will help educate communities about healthy traditional food, cultural norms, and the importance of indigenous knowledge.
Speaking passionately about the issue, Sithole emphasized that the involvement of ancestors and traditional leaders could play a crucial role in preventing such tragedies. “The deaths of these children could have been avoided if we had worked together with our ancestors and traditional leaders to address these issues,” he said. Sithole warned that simply closing down spaza shops would not solve the problem, stressing that a comprehensive approach was needed to improve food safety and health standards. “Spaza shops must be monitored closely by government agencies, especially those responsible for environmental health, to ensure that expired or unsafe food is not sold to the public,” he explained.
Sithole also expressed frustration with the scapegoating of spaza shop owners, particularly foreign nationals, in the aftermath of these deaths. While he acknowledged that spaza shop owners should be held accountable for the food they sell, he argued that broader systemic issues needed to be addressed. “We must inspect food manufacturers to ensure that they adhere to high standards,” he said. He added that it is essential for children to be taught proper eating habits, encouraging them to eat healthy, home-prepared meals rather than food from the streets.
Community members echoed Sithole’s concerns, calling for stronger regulation of food safety. Patrick Maluleka (31), a local resident, said, “The food must be inspected. AboMyfriend must fall. Ancestors are not happy about the children’s deaths.” Another resident, Jimmy Legwabe (46), emphasized the importance of maintaining spaza shops in the community but with proper oversight: “The government must ensure that spaza shops are selling healthy food, not expired products.” Meanwhile, Thapelo Manganye (32) argued that stricter regulations are necessary: “Kids are dying, and the shops must be closed if the food is unsafe. We need to enforce tough laws to prevent further negligence.”
Sithole concluded by urging a return to traditional roots, calling for rituals and consultations with ancestors to prevent future tragedies. “We must talk to our ancestors and seek their guidance to prevent accidents like this from happening again,” he said. His message was clear: the solution lies in a partnership between traditional wisdom and modern governance to ensure the safety and well-being of all South Africans.
