AfriForum welcomes lifting of ban on food sales by approved vendors at schools

AfriForum welcomes the announcement by the Gauteng Department of Education that food vendors and tuck shops on school grounds that meet all legal requirements will be allowed to sell food to learners again. The ban on sales, that has now been lifted, followed in response to the recent spate of cases where learners fell ill and some even passed away after buying food from vendors who did not comply with the necessary requirements.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, the civil rights organisation agrees that steps are necessary to prevent more cases and deaths, but the ban on vendors and tuck shops on school grounds that meet all regulatory requirements was far too drastic. It even exposed learners to greater danger. Feeding schemes at some of the schools that contacted AfriForum had to be stopped and left children without food aid. In other cases, children slipped out during school hours to get snacks from unverified vendors.

AfriForum therefore urgently contacted the Gauteng Department of Education last week to request that authorised vendors who can prove that they meet all regulatory requirements be allowed to resume food sales. “We view the lifting of the ban as good news for all parties concerned, but especially for those who have the wellbeing and safety of their clients at heart,” Bailey says.

In addition, AfriForum welcomes the fact that the inspection of vendors and spaza shops is now being prioritised and hopes that this will bring an end to the tragic events of recent times.