Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said no arrests or prosecutions were made in connection with the deaths of children who were suspected of dying from consuming unsafe food from spaza shops.
Responding to MK Party MP Hazel Mbele this week, Cachalia said the inquest dockets that were opened between April 2025 and December 2025 remained under investigation.
“All incidents in which it is alleged that a child died as a result of consuming goods purchased from a spaza shop are investigated by the South African Police Service. In such instances, an inquest docket is registered and investigated in accordance with the Inquests Act,” he said.
According to Cachalia, the purpose of the inquest was to establish the cause of death and determine whether any person may be held criminally liable.
