WeeklySA_AdminINCIDENCE: Gauteng has recorded more than 200 cases since February and reports nearly 2 650 in three years…
By Lehlohonolo Lehana
A chemical believed to be linked to the deaths of six children in Soweto has been identified, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed today, as probes into mystery around food poisoning incidents rocking townships spreads nationwide.
Four people have been arrested, one man and three women, two of them in terms of the laws of the country where given bail of R2000. The others are still in custody.
Motsoaledi made the announcement during a media briefing held alongside the ANC national executive committee meeting in Boksburg today. The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) is currently treating the recent spate of deaths as a national security threat.
Police yesterday announced that Soweto child deaths were all linked to toxic carbamates, as health inspectors raided Naledi this week while researchers reported 2 652 child poisonings in Gauteng in three years, reports Daily Maverick. One of the products is known as “halephirimi”, loosely translated as “you will not see the sunset”.
Daily Maverick quoted Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni as having told a briefing yesterday that police had received the forensic reports for 11 deaths – six this year and five last year – and all were linked to insect poison in a class called carbamates. Certain carbamates have been banned in many countries
The crackdown against spazas in the townships follows a string of reported child deaths linked to food from foreign-owned spaza shops.
Six children died in Naledi, Soweto, of suspected poisoning this month. Monica Sebetwana (6), Ida Maama (7), Isago Mabote (8), Karabo Rampou (9) and Njabulo Msimanga (7) died on Sunday, 6 October after eating chips from a local spaza shop that authorities determined were contaminated by the chemical agent. The last surviving child, Katlego Olifant (7), died on Sunday, 13 October after a week-long battle in intensive care.
Shortly afterwards, 74 matric pupils were admitted to hospital in the West Rand from a suspected food poisoning incident. The Grade 12 pupils aged between 17 and 20, from Fochville Secondary School, Badirile Secondary School and Wedela Technical School were part of a matric camp at the Fochville Secondary School.
Last Thursday, 25 pupils were taken to medical facilities for suspected food poisoning after they showed symptoms of itching and stomach pains 30 minutes after eating snacks from a street vendor near the school in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit.
Motsoaledi previously announced that a plan has since been put into place to mount a systemic search for the agent causing this malady, and that action will be accelerated during the coming weeks.
He said the arrests followed information from spaza shop owners, who pointed authorities to a supplier believed to be selling a chemical suspected to have contaminated the food.
“They did confess that there is an illegal chemical, which they buy from their mall, 27 officials visited that mall and they confiscated 1456 gram of that chemical. “Four people were arrested, one man and three women, two of them – in terms of the laws of the country – were given bail of R2000. The others are still in custody.
“The confiscated chemical is in Johannesburg Central prison,” said Motsoaledi.
He acknowledged pressure from the public and the concern that the government is doing nothing.
“I know that we are under pressure that we are doing nothing while people are dying, but we can’t just rush and make conclusions.
“So we have a team on the ground doing investigations, forensic pathologists are there, epidemiologists are there, and some clinicians who specialize in symptoms of somebody who has been chemically poisoned.
They have these swaps of children that have been taken, and the files of these children, they are scrutinising all those things and the post-mortem results to try and make out exactly what we are dealing with.”
Gauteng has recorded more than 200 cases of food poisoning affecting children since February. Ten of these cases have resulted in death.
The Department of Health has rebuffed claims that the government was neglecting the issue of children dying from suspected food poisoning.
“These increasing incidents in black communities have led to an unfortunate and unsubstantiated perception that authorities are turning a blind eye to this crisis, and seem not to care about what’s happening to citizens. Contrary to these beliefs and perceptions, this is what various authorities have been engaged in,” a statement from the department read. Those affected have concluded that these sudden deaths, especially among school children, were because of food poisoning emanating from foodstuff, particularly snacks, sold by foreign-owned spaza shops.
The department said NATJOINTS, which is the national structure responsible for coordinating the security of the State, is treating these incidents as a potential threat to the security of the country and its citizens.
“Last week, NATJOINTS met to analyse this situation and after careful analysis, recommended that the Department of Health should coordinate all these investigations involving various institutions and bodies because in the final analysis, whatever is happening eventually leads to ill-health or even death.”
Health inspectors have also assessed 84 spaza shops in Soweto.
Mirror Briefs
ZUMA REMAINS EXPELLED
Former ANC President, Jacob Zuma, remained expelled from the party and his appeal was a deliberate publicity stunt to confuse the public that he was a member of both the ANC and MK parties, Fikile Mbalula, Secretary- General of the ANC said. His reaction followed the announcement by Zuma on Friday that he would appeal his expulsion from the ANC. Mbalula said Zuma’s appeal was now with the National Disciplinary Committee of Appeal (NDCA).
“He is expelled. He has appealed exactly within the prescription of the Constitution. So, we are not entertaining that. That matter is with the NDCA, which is dealing with that matter with him. So that is not an issue.”
Mbalula said Zuma was confusing the public by claiming to be a member of two political parties. “Jacob Zuma is just confusing himself and at the same time the general population. He is doing this intentionally. He does that because there is a milage he is scoring out of that.”
The ANC expelled Zuma in July 2024 for being part of the formation of the MK party and campaigning for the party towards the national elections. Mbalula was speaking at a media briefing ahead of the ANC special National Executive Committee meeting in Boksburg. – Lehlohonolo Lehana
PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR PEACE
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has commended President Cyril Ramaphosa and his team for their effective representation of South Africa at the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia. Ramaphosa emphasised BRICS’ significant role in driving global change and advocated for peace. He highlighted the need for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and called out the United Nations Security Council for its inaction on key issues.
Under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”, BRICS leaders outlined a commitment to enhancing cooperation across multiple key areas.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Supra Mahumapelo, commended the collective effort of BRICS leaders, stating, “It is encouraging for world leaders to reiterate the importance of further enhancing BRICS solidarity and cooperation based on mutual interests and key priorities.”
He underscored the necessity of a strategic partnership built on principles of mutual respect, sovereignty and inclusiveness.
‘’They further committed to strengthening cooperation in the expanded BRICS under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, cultural and people-to-people cooperation and to enhancing our strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace.’’
During the plenary session, Ramaphosa voiced critical concerns regarding the escalating conflict in Palestine, urging the international community to prevent genocide and support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. – SA News
MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM UPLIFT
A refurbished viewing platform, all-new sky car and a zipline are all part of a multi-million-rand upgrade planned for the landmark Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba announced yesterday.
The city council recently gave the go-ahead for the extensive refurbishment project, estimated at R236 million. It is the biggest revamp of the stadium since it opened ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The planned new features include:
· A new viewing platform with a 60% increase in floor area and cantilevered glass floor to create an ‘airwalk’ experience;
· A new sky car with increased travel time, which will also be accessible to people with disabilities;
· A new big swing for bungee jumping, with improved access to the launch platform;
· A new zipline that ends at the People’s Park for after-adventure refreshments; and
· A compression ring walk, which provides panoramic views with a sea-facing bungee jump option.
Xaba said the upgraded stadium would be positive for the city as the were reopening of the Hilton hotel, the billion-rand investment that will be made by Southern Sun group in the Elangeni and Maharani redevelopment and improvements being made along the promenade. – Liesle Preyer
LAWYER JAILED FOR THEFT
A disgraced attorney, Sepalela Rahab Mathobela, who was sentenced for stealing money from her clients has lost an appeal on her six-year sentence. The 42-year-old was sentenced on April 16, 2019. In September that year, her leave to appeal the sentence imposed by the North West Regional Court was granted and she was out on bail.
In her appeal, heard at the local High Court, Mathobela argued that the six-year sentence was shockingly severe and excessive. She said the court should have imposed a sentence of correctional supervision or a suspended sentence.
She added that the court failed to consider the fact that she paid back the R331,147 she had stolen with interest of over R19,000. She further emphasised that she pleaded guilty and did not waste the court’s time, which was a sign of remorse.
Judge Ronald Hendricks said as an attorney, Mathobela was in a position of trust and she deceived her clients and stole money from a deceased estate and it was intended for vulnerable children. Mathobela’s theft and fraud with money intended for vulnerable children, as last sign of love and respect from the deceased, offended against the moral rectitude of society.
“…To reiterate, no misdirection was committed by the Regional Magistrate, and I am of the view that the sentence is not shockingly severe and disproportionate to the offences committed. The appeal against sentence should consequently fail,” said the judge. – SA News.
