By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Friday evening on the government’s response to the recent deaths of school children from food-borne illnesses.
The address will take place at 19:30.
Several cases of food-borne illnesses have been recorded in various parts of the country. This led to the deaths of children and hospitalisation of others in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Free State.
The Department of Health has tasked the National Institute of Communicable Diseases to trace and examine the source of the poisoning of foodstuffs and make recommendations.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs supported by the Department of Small Business Development and the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Disaster Management have gazetted the Standard Draft By-laws for Township Economies aimed at mobilising municipalities around a common agenda and collective responses towards inclusive local economies and curbing illegal business operations in townships.
Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said Cabinet has been briefed on the foodborne illnesses and fatalities recorded in parts of the country.
Ntshaveni added that the president would address the nation following a detailed meeting with the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster and the Interministerial Committee on Disaster Management on the interventions that are being taken to address the issue.