The Ntshingila family from Klipgat B in the North West is devastated after 4-year-old Botshelo Ntshingila passed away on 4 November. Botshelo’s mother, Annah, struggles to understand how her daughter ate ice lollies and later died. Botshelo had two lollies, returned to buy two more, and ate one before going to bed. The next morning, she woke up with stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Annah rushed Botshelo to the clinic, but tragically, her daughter passed away in her arms before they could enter. Annah remembers Botshelo’s last words, “Mama, help,” before she took her final breath. The cause of death remains unclear, but Annah suspects the ice lollies may have been contaminated. She is still grieving and confused by the sudden loss.
This tragedy has raised concerns about food safety in spaza shops. Annah urges other parents to carefully monitor what their children eat, particularly from local shops. She also calls on spaza shops to ensure proper food storage and check expiry dates. “Losing a child in such a way is painful,” Annah said, still reeling from her daughter’s death.
Michael Maleka, chairman of North West Bahlali Dudula, has called for government action to regulate spaza shops. He insists health inspectors should be more active in townships to prevent further deaths linked to food sold in these shops. The family has been advised to visit the local police station for further investigation into the incident.
