South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre has, in terms of Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002, classified the recent uptick in foodborne illnesses across the country as a national disaster, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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According to a South African Government media release, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Thembi Simelane announced this at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.
A spate of foodborne illnesses this year has claimed 22 lives, including children, and left many others hospitalised.
Since September this year, at least 890 incidents of foodborne illnesses have been reported.
The president addressed the nation on the government’s response to the recurring instances of foodborne illnesses.
On Thursday, Simelane said measures to standardise municipal by-laws regulating businesses will be accelerated to clamp down on the problem.
‘The implementation of the standard by-laws for rural and township economies, which among others, advocate for mandatory proper waste disposal and recycling practices to ensure that business areas are free from obstructions and pollutants will be expedited.’
‘This will also go a long way in dealing with the issue of rat infestations in our communities, which gives rise to the harmful use of dangerous and banned chemicals like pesticides,’ Simelane said.
Simelane added that a team of health experts who will serve in the Ministerial Advisory Committee is being appointed.
The committee is expected to develop medium-to-long-term prevention measures to curb the incidents of foodborne illnesses in the country.
‘The directive to notify the deaths of patients 12 years and below is a critical one and will be implemented as a matter of urgency.’
‘The Department of Health is currently amending the Notifiable Medical Conditions Regulations such that the death of anybody 12 years and younger becomes notifiable.’
‘The Regulations may be published based on the State of Disaster being declared by the Minister of COGTA,’ Simelane said.
Additionally, Simelane assured that the issue of a shortage of health inspectors is receiving urgent attention to capacitate all districts and metropolitan municipalities to effectively enforce inspections across the country.
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Picture: OJ Koloti / Gallo Images
