Gauteng police are calling for calm after a nine-year-old girl died from suspected food poisoning after allegedly consuming snacks bought from a local spaza shop in Alexandra, Johannesburg North, on Saturday, 2 November.
The call comes as disgruntled community members were up in arms, trying to demolish the store in response to the increasing number of food poisoning incidents reported in the area.
NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL DIES FROM SUSPECTED FOOD POISONING IN ALEXANDRA
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Gauteng, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, said according to the incident report, police in Alexandra responded to a call regarding a mother and her two kids who were experiencing stomach aches.
Regrettably, the nine-year-old was declared dead while the mother and the four-year-old are still in hospital.
Nevhuhulwi said a team of police investigators, in collaboration with health experts and other role players, will be investigating the allegations made concerning the food consumed by the victims before falling ill.
An inquest case is currently being investigated following the incident.
Meanwhile, Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni has urged members of the public to allow investigators space to do their work in uncovering the truth behind this incident without making speculations.
“We have established a team of experts working with our government partners to investigate the death. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the deceased child and wish a swift recovery to the mother and the other child,” Mthombeni said.
HEALTH MINISTER CONFIRMS CAUSE OF DEATH OF SIX MINORS FROM NALEDI
Meanwhile, on Monday, 28 October, Health minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed that an organophosphate caused the death of six children from Naledi, Soweto, who were rushed to hospital in critical condition after allegedly consuming various snacks from local spaza shops.
During the briefing, Motsoaledi identified the organophosphate as terbufos which is a pale-yellow liquid used as an insecticide.
Organophosphate is a group of substances which are used in agriculture or as pesticides.
“In the past weeks several chemicals were bandied around as the possible causes of death. Some were even found in some retailers. Apart from organophosphate, another group of chemicals used as pesticides are called Carbamates. There is a slight difference between carbamates and organophosphates. One major difference is that organophosphate is much more lethal and can cause irreversible damage,” he said.
Motsoaledi confirmed that all the six children died of terbufos ingestion.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS BEHIND THE SPATE OF SUSPECTED FOOD INCIDENTS CLAIMING LIVES OF MINORS?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
