The crisis of young people dying allegedly from eating snacks from spaza shops continues as another tragic death is reported in Gauteng.
A Grade 10 learner from Orange Farm Secondary School has died after eating snacks from a spaza near her home.
The Gauteng Department of Education was informed of the incident on Monday. The incident allegedly happened on Saturday when she experienced sudden illness after eating the snacks. She was rushed to a nearby clinic, where she was certified dead.
Community urged to be vigilant
Matome Chiloane, MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, has called for urgent vigilance from communities. He also extended condolences to those affected by the death.
“It is unfortunate that we are still experiencing tragic outcomes from the consumption of unauthorised or unverified food items.
“We urge communities to be more cautious, and protect our children from avoidable harm. Especially from unauthorised spaza shops,” said Chiloane.
This follows a series of more young people that died under similar circumstances.
Sunday World previously reported that a family in Katlehong had lost two children who allegedly died after consuming a Kool aid bought from a local spaza shop.
Two siblings ate Kool Aid from spaza shop, and died
The two children were given money to buy snacks as there was a power cut and the mother had not prepared food. The children went to bed but were found dead when the mother checked up on them.
In another incident, six children from Soweto had died in a similar way. Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, explained that the children died due to the presence of a chemical called organophosphate.
Zinhle Maama, 7), Monica Sathekge, 6, Njabulo Msimango, 7, Karabo Rampou, 8, and Isago Mabote, 7, died earlier. The sixth child, Katleho Olifant, 7, passed away a week later in hospital.
“All six children died of terbufos ingestion. In the past few weeks, several chemicals were bandied around as possible causes of death. Some were even found in some retailers.
More kids dying from rat poison
“Our theory is that spaza shops use it as pesticides to kill rats. I want to believe that there are rats in a number of spaza shops. So it came to spaza shops in that manner.
“Until we are proven otherwise and if the spaza shop owners are found to have been guilty of this, they will be charged,” Motsoaledi explained.
