FOLLOWING the death of two boys in Naledi, Soweto, this week, the department of health in Gauteng has committed itself to fight the scourge of unhealthy goods in the location.
The boys age 4 and 6, respectively allegedly bought and ate biscuits from a tuck shop on Sunday, owned allegedly by either a Pakistan or Somalian.
This incident has sparked tensions between the community and foreign nationals who run these spaza shops, resulting in the shutdown of most of the foreign-owned shops in the area.
The team is made up of environmental health practitioners, surveillance officers, communicable disease specialists and other health officials who continue to take samples and monitor the situation for the remainder of the week.
They spent the entire day on Wednesday, raising awareness on illegal and expired goods in Naledi and other neighbouring areas.
Motaletale Modiba, spokesperson for the department of Health, said it was important for members of the community to be trained on what to do when they are presented with symptoms of food poisoning such a cramping, and nausea, and other signs.
MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has also sent her condolences to the affected families and visited them.
“The incident is another painful reminder that we must do more to ensure greater public awareness and increase the level of alertness when it comes to food stuffs communities are exposed to,” she said.
The MEC added that out of the five affected children, the Department of Health has revealed that a three-year-old boy is recovering well from home, while two are still being treated at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
“Out of the five affected children, a three-year-old boy is recovering well from home, two are currently admitted at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital – a four-year-old male who is recovering well is due and is due for a discharge, and a six-year-old remains critical but stable in ICU,” she said.
The devastated Grandmother of the boys Matota Khang, said it’s a terrible experience she would not let happen to another person.
“We are devastated by the loss of our child and to think that we have another child fighting for his life in hospital breaks my heart.
It was a terrible sight trying to revive him when he was complaining of chest pains. He literally turned pink while he was vomiting some pink and yellow stuff from his mouth. We had our hands full and neighbours came in to help and we managed to rush to the hospital only to be given the said news of the death of Neo after some time,” Khang said.
Police in Soweto have since opened an inquest docket following the deaths of the two children.
Leader of Operation Dudula, Ntonto Kente, who led the shutdown of foreign-owned spaza shops, said they would continue with their operation to close down shops run by foreigners as they contributed to poisoning and killing children.
“The whole of this (week) will be dedicated to shutting down these businesses. We can’t let our children die and do nothing,” Kente said.
The family has requested help with burial of the boys.
This a call to all Spaza shops owners nationally- to be vigilant when coming to selling expired or illegal goods to the public, as it comes with serious ramifications.
Image (Tension running high. Community in Naledi, Soweto have shut Spaza shops owned by foreigners following the death of two boys this week).
