In response to 23 tragic child deaths and 441 reported food poisoning cases linked to local spaza shops, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi outlined a new by-law aimed at regulating these township businesses. Gazetted by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, the law seeks to create safer environments for small businesses while addressing food safety. Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg report the most cases, with postmortems revealing organophosphate poisoning in some fatalities.