Samples of the Soweto spaza shop (tuck shop) biscuits four children ate before they fell seriously ill have been sent to a laboratory for testing.

Two boys, Neo Khang and Leon Jele, have died and two girls are fighting for their lives in Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital after eating the biscuits and washing it down with juice – all bought at a spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto.

Spokesperson for the Gauteng education department, Steve Mabona, said: "It is alleged that their health began deteriorating after eating these goods, which resulted in two of them being hospitalised and two others passing away."

City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said a municipality's environmental health practitioner had taken samples of the biscuits and added that the City would release a report on the results.

The community has been up in arms since the death of the two boys.

The aunt of one of the boys who died told News24 that the shop owner had fled from the area.

Nthabiseng Khang, Neo's aunt, said the owner fled before they could get answers on what had happened to the children.

"The community is very unhappy because they want to know what [the shop owner] gave the children. I feel helpless. I wonder if justice will be served now that he's run away. I don't have hope anymore," she added.

Neo is related to one of the girls who is receiving treatment in hospital.

City of Johannesburg Speaker Colleen Makhubele visited the children's families on Wednesday.

She said officials had hoped to establish whether the owner sold expired goods but could not gain access to the shop because it was closed.

Makhubele said the government needed to enforce food-monitoring processes.

"This is murder, and people are getting away with murder because our systems are failing. It's a whole chain of failures," she said.

She said health education also covered spaza shops in the area and included compliance in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics And Disinfectants Act and food-labelling regulations.

"The tragic 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 the foodstuffs communities are exposed to," the MEC said.

The police have also taken samples.

Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said no one has been arrested in connection with the children's deaths.

She said an inquest docket was opened and that the post-mortem examination results on the cause of death were still outstanding.

Members of the anti-migrant group, Operation Dudula (sweep out filth), could be seen outside the shop.

Expired products maybe

It's not the shops.

Police should arrest anybody in that area with black mark on their foreheads.

See dirty slum.

Witch-hunt

So south Africa is this dirty with slums everywhere like Ajegunle of then

jamesversion:
See dirty slum.

Slum with tarred roads. In Nigeria even Dangote's house has a dirt road running in front of it😭

Na to start to loot Nigerians' shop next.

I can bet the shop owner is not a Nigerian and probably a SAfrican, if not, the headline should have been different and the shop owner's name and Nationality on Tabs.

TMKsouth:


Slum with tarred roads. In Nigeria even Dangote's house has a dirt road running in front of it😭

They just know how to press you $ that anambila1stson mumu buttons here on NL. Just one comment, you will turn everywhere to Preeq measuring contest. Both of you always fall for this trap, you will reply people till page 99 while they trigger your emotions even with mojo.
Why did you mention Dangote? You racknowledge him as the richest man in Africa! Continue replying them till page 99 like your partner, they will always have comments to throw at you.
Happy replying!
What next now, looting Nigeria's shops?

Pepperdemisback:

They just know how to press you $ that anambila1stson mumu buttons here on NL. Just one comment, you will turn everywhere to Preeq measuring contest. Both of you always fall for this trap, you will reply people till page 99 while they trigger your emotions even with mojo.
Why did you mention Dangote? You racknowledge him as the richest man in Africa! Continue replying them till page 99 like your partner, they will always have comments to throw at you.
Happy replying!
What next now, looting Nigeria's shops?

Mad man.

Bounce!

TMKsouth:
Members of the anti-migrant group, Operation Dudula (sweep out filth), could be seen outside the shop.

Before you say jack, these lazy AIDS infested South Africans will start looting the shop...

Everything bad that has happened or will ever happen at SA are easily blamed on foreigners. We are waiting to see how the looting spree will go.