South Africa declares national disaster as foodborne illnesses hit

Justice Minister Thembi Simelane made the announcement in the country's administrative capital Pretoria following the death of at least 22 people, including children this year.

Over 890 cases of foodborne illnesses have been reported since September.

The government also plans to speed up new laws for better hygiene in rural and township areas. These laws will focus on proper waste disposal and recycling to keep business areas clean.

According to Simelane, the measure will help deal with the issue of rat infestations in the communities.

As part of efforts to tackle the problem, a team of health experts will be formed to find long-term solutions and the government will also begin recording deaths of children under 12 caused by foodborne illnesses.

“This will help us to understand the burden of disease and the population at risk in real-time,” Simelane was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health is working to update its regulations to make these changes possible. The updates will be linked to the declared State of Disaster.

The shortage of health inspectors is also being addressed to ensure that all areas have enough inspectors to monitor food safety and protect people’s lives.