By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
23 July 2025- Forum for South Africa (FOSA) said while many have forgotten about the issue of illegal spaza shops, it has never divorced itself from the struggle for justice. FOSA said a month ago, it wrote to the Minister of Small Business Development through its legal head, Adv Matswiki, requesting clarity from the Minister with regard to measures put in place in protecting the children against illegal spaza shops.
FOSA national leader, Tebogo Mashilompane said in addition, they sought an explanation as to why illegal spaza shops are still operating despite the fact that children died after eating snacks from spaza shops. Mashilompane said they have taken the responsibility to protect the vulnerable, hence they want the department to be proactive not reactionary as they always do.
“It must also be stated that in the recent past, FOSA has engaged the Minister of COGTA about the same issue, and he referred us to the Minister of Small Business Development. To date, the Minister never bothered to give clarity despite the fact that we have made two follow ups.
“As a result, FOSA gave the Minister of Small Business Development until tomorrow, 24 July 2025 to respond. If the Minister does not respond by the due date, the legal team will take the matter to court,” he said.
Mashilompane further said they will urge the courts to hold the Minister personally liable for the deaths of all the children and also liable for legal costs. He added that, as a reasonable organization, we have given the Minister enough time to respond or have a meeting with our team so we can understand the reasons why illegal spaza shops are still operating, especially by illegal foreigners, but the Minister does not see the urgency and the impotence of our call, so, on behalf of the innocent children, they will fight for their justice in court.
The Guardian 