“I saw my child turning purple and grey right before my eyes while holding her. By the time she wanted to say something about what happened, it was too late. All I can say is my child suffered and whatever she had eaten was too much for her.”
These are the chilling words of Zinhle Ida Maama’s father, Dumisani Masilela, who told The Star on Monday that his daughter was one of the six children who allegedly ate poisonous snacks called Brown Dash, reportedly bought from a local spaza shop operated by illegal immigrants.
Sunday’s tragedy is a further blow to the community of Naledi in Soweto, which is still grappling with the loss of three children who died under similar circumstances on October 4 last year.
Mpho Rampou, mother of 9-year old Karabo Rampou, said: “Karabo returned from church, ate and left. After a while he came back, I think he had already eaten the snacks.
“We initially thought he was just tired from playing only to find out that he had already eaten the snacks... my nephew came to inform me that my child had eaten something poisonous.
“I rushed there only to find that my child was foaming at the mouth and we rushed to hospital but it was too late,” she said.
According to police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the police have since opened an inquest docket following the reported deaths on Sunday.
“The police have opened an inquest docket after five kids aged between six and nine years old were declared dead at the local (Naledi) clinic on October 6 2024. The circumstances that led to their deaths are unknown at this stage pending police investigations,” she said.
Nevhuhulwi said a preliminary report suggested that the six children had been playing together the whole day and came back home at about 3pm. They started vomiting after asking for food from their parents.
The children were rushed to Zola Clinic, Bheki Mlangeni Hospital and Tshiawelo clinic, where they were reported dead almost immediately after arrival. One child is fighting for his life in hospital.
The victims were 7-year-old Ida Maama and Njabulo Msimango, who were swiftly transported to Zola Clinic. Tragically, they were pronounced dead almost immediately upon arrival. Another pair of children, 8-year-old Isago Mabote and 9-year-old Karabo Rampou, also succumbed to their conditions at Zola Clinic.
Six-year-old Monica Sebetwana was certified dead on arrival in hospital.
Her father, Joseph Sethekge said Monica was her last child who had died a painful death prematurely.
“She had just returned home and asked for food. As she was waiting for me to finish what I was doing, she just collapsed and I was called in to observe her. It took less than 10 minute for the situation to get worse and we quickly rushed her to the clinic only to realise that her other friend was also having the same symptoms,” Sethekge said.
A community member, who did not want to be named, said their children were not safe in the hands of spaza shop owners.
“We are angry as the community of Naledi because our children are not safe. It can't be that our children are killed by illegal foreigners who feed them poison and unregulated goods,” she said.
Gauteng MEC of Education and Sports, Matome Chiloane, sent his condolences to the affected families, saying: “We wish to extend our condolences to the families, friends, and school communities affected by these tragic incidents. The safety and well-being of our children remain our top priority and we urge parents, guardians and communities to exercise caution regarding food consumed by children.”
The Star