A five-year-old boy from Diepkloof, Soweto, tragically passed away on Wednesday, 20 November, following an alleged food poisoning incident. The child is said to have consumed snacks purchased from a spaza shop, owned by a foreign national, alongside a friend before falling seriously ill.
Approximately 20 minutes after eating the snacks, the boy began showing signs of distress. He was rushed to a nearby healthcare facility, where he was declared dead shortly after arrival. Three other children are reported to be in critical condition after also feeling unwell from consuming similar snacks.
Ward Councillor Brenda Dammie expressed her deep concern over the incident, stating that she had previously warned the community about the potential dangers of buying from certain local shops. “I have been urging residents to avoid purchasing from these stores. Just two weeks ago, I said I didn’t want to see any more children die from these snacks in my ward, and now it’s happened. This is a heartbreaking situation,” Dammie said.
The community has responded by closing the shop where the snacks were purchased, though Dammie emphasized the difficulty of addressing the broader issue of spaza shops operating in the area. “We can’t compel landlords to shut down these businesses, but they are aware of the risks,” she added.
Police have opened an inquest docket into the boy’s death. According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, “Reports indicate that the child was vomiting and suffering from a severe stomach upset before being taken to a local clinic, where he was later declared dead. The cause of death is currently unknown, pending autopsy results.”
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident as the community mourns the loss of the young boy and grapples with ongoing concerns over food safety.
