By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The NATJOINTS has postponed its media briefing on developments related to food safety following incidents of suspected food poisonings in parts of the country.
Four people have been arrested for trading an illegal chemical, traces of which were found in spaza shops in Naledi, Soweto.
Earlier this month, six children in Soweto died after consuming suspected tainted treats from a spaza shop.
Shortly afterwards, 74 matric pupils were admitted to hospital in the West Rand from a suspected food poisoning incident. The Grade 12 pupils aged between 17 and 20, from Fochville Secondary School, Badirile Secondary School and Wedela Technial School were part of a matric camp at the Foschville Secondary School.
Last Thursday, 25 pupils were taken to medical facilities for suspected food poisoning after they showed symptoms of itching and stomach pains 30 minutes after eating snacks from a street vendor near the school in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit.
Community concerns have since mounted, with foreign-owned spaza shops in townships being accused of selling unsafe and expired food products.
Health minister Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) is investigating the surge in suspected food poisoning cases. Health inspectors have also assessed 84 spaza shops in Soweto, where they discovered an undisclosed chemical. Officials seized over 1,456 grams (about 1.5 kg) of the substance.