Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has demanded immediate action from law enforcement following the death of a sixth child in Soweto, allegedly due to food poisoning after consuming snacks from a local spaza shop.
The death of Katlego Olifant, who had spent a week in intensive care fighting for his life, was confirmed during a heartfelt funeral ceremony held on Sunday in Naledi, Soweto.
Gordon Rampolokeng, chairperson of Divine Intervention in Naledi, announced the passing of Katlego during the mass funeral.
Lesufi, speaking at the funeral, expressed his anguish over the loss of young lives, emphasising the urgency of the situation.
“Those who have been assigned to investigate the matter are called upon to execute their mandate with the necessary speed,” he urged.
He called for a broader investigation, stating that authorities must look beyond Naledi to identify the manufacturer of the snacks that claimed the lives of children aged six to 10.
Since the tragedy last Sunday, there has been a lot of conjecture on the reason behind the children’s deaths. It has been suggested that they may have eaten chips that they bought from the spaza shop.
The five other victims were laid to rest earlier that day during a mass funeral service at the Naledi Community Hall.
Lesufi’s plea for transparency resonated during his address, as he urged forensic investigators to expedite their findings.
“We have also asked forensic investigators to provide information as soon as possible, not only to the families but also to law enforcement,” he stated.
“It always pains me to expose school children to these kinds of events. School should not be exposed to these kinds of events and cannot be made normal.“
The Star
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