MIDDELBURG — A Middelburg resident has raised concerns about food safety after allegedly discovering mold in a kota he purchased from a shop in the central business district on Thursday, 19 March.
Victor Hlakudi said he stopped eating immediately after noticing the issue and reported it to the shop owner.
“I saw it had fungus on it, which made me stop eating and contact the store owner immediately,” he said. “It’s truly disgusting to find this in the kota I enjoy so much.”
Hlakudi said a friend had eaten a similar kota earlier but did not report any issues. He added that neither of them had experienced any symptoms at the time of reporting.
According to Hlakudi, the shop owner apologised and issued a full refund. However, he believes this is not sufficient and has requested that the owner cover the cost of precautionary medical examinations for both himself and his friend.
“I want him to pay for the doctor’s fees for both of us,” he said.
Hlakudi said he is concerned about potential health risks and wants assurance that consuming the food will not lead to complications. He also raised concerns about other customers who may have purchased food from the same shop.
“This is a busy shop where many people buy food and may not be aware of the issue,” he said.
The shop owner declined to comment when approached.
At the time of publication, arrangements were being made for Hlakudi and his friend to undergo medical examinations.
