Another child dies and three others hospitalised in Soweto after allegedly eating contaminated snacks

Gauteng police have opened an inquest docket following the death of a five-year-old child in Soweto after reportedly eating contaminated snacks.

It is understood the little boy was taken to a clinic in Diepkloof with three other children who became sick. The boy died at the clinic on Wednesday.

Child was vomiting, had upset stomach

Gauteng police Spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the death is being investigated.

“According to reports, the child was vomiting and had a runny stomach before being taken to a local clinic where he was declared dead. The cause of death is unknown at this stage, pending autopsy results.”

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) confirmed that the child was a Grade R pupil at Dumezweni Primary School in Diepkloof.

Three other children hospitalised

According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, three other pupils from the same school — a Grade R girl, a Grade 1 girl, and a Grade 4 boy — were also hospitalised after experiencing similar symptoms.

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While the five-year-old tragically died, the other children were transferred to another facility for further medical care.

Mabona said the children, who live in the same yard, were playing together when they began showing severe symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea after allegedly consuming snacks.

The department has deployed a team to provide psychosocial services to the school community, ensuring that pupils and staff receive emotional and psychological support.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased learner and wish the hospitalised learners a speedy recovery,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.

Food poisoning

The incident follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address last week as the country battles a spate of deaths and hospital admissions linked to food poisoning.

These incidents also sparked massive outcries, leading to several community protests countrywide.

Ramaphosa on spaza shops

Ramaphosa said spaza shops lacked proper food storage and facilities for washing hands and dishes, increasing the likelihood of food and snack contamination.

“Even as our investigations are ongoing, it is critical to understand that this is not a problem confined to spaza shops and other informal traders,” Ramaphosa emphasised.

“The unregulated use of restricted pesticides in communities has become a growing problem, with devastating consequences.”

Ramaphosa issued an instruction last week that all spaza shops in the country should be registered within 21 days.

The president called on South Africans to work together to overcome the crisis.

Township economy

Although the government sees legislation to regulate spaza shops in townships as a way to address illegal activities, the law falls short of expectations from locals who want to own the township economy.

Residents hoped the state would not only deal with the removal of poisonous substances and ensure businesses operated legally, but some suggested a ban on foreigners trading in townships.

Additional reporting by Eric Naki and Chulumanco Mahamba

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