Organophosphate has been found to be the cause of death of six Soweto children who were said to have consumed snacks from a local spaza shop.
“The organophosphate identified in this instance is called Terbufos,” Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said.
Earlier this month, Gauteng MEC of Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, called for calm in Naledi, Soweto, following reports of angry community members looting, destroying and shutting down foreign-owned shops in the area.
Providing an update on the investigation into the deaths of the six children at a media briefing on Monday, Motsoaledi confirmed that all six children died of Terbufos ingestion.
“As you know, organophosphate is not one substance but a group of substances, which are usually used in agriculture or as pesticides. The organophosphate identified in this instance is called Terbufos,” Motsoaledi said.
He said as part of the investigation, a group 80 environmental health practitioners, or health inspectors, were dispersed. They were joined by officials from other government departments whose line of work is relevant to the food-borne problem in Naledi.
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“As said before they visited 84 spaza shops in search of the evidence of a chemical which we believed was responsible for the illnesses and fatalities that befell our nation, especially in Naledi, Soweto.
“That work was concluded on Thursday, with mop-up operations done on Friday. This operation was done under the supervision and instruction of experts from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD).
“This team was given all the information, including the medical files of the deceased children, and more importantly the post-mortem results. They used the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) medical certification form recommended by the World Health Assembly (WHA) to do their analysis,” the Minister explained.
Toxicology has proven that the actual cause of death was not Carbamate, but organophosphate. The Minister added that there was a slight difference between Carbamates and organophosphates. One major difference is that organophosphate is much more lethal and can cause irreversible damage.
Department of Basic Education express concern at increasing reports
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu called on parents and guardians to discourage their children from buying food outside of the school yard.
“We call on parents to encourage their children not to buy [food] outside their schools. We are sympathising with all the parents who lost their children,” Mchunu said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Basic Education has expressed concern at the increasing reports of food poisoning involving children of school-going age.
“These incidents of food poisoning have disrupted teaching and learning as the majority of the cases affected learners during school hours. As a result, school time has been directed towards assisting the affected learners with medical attention,” the department said in a statement.
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In addition, the psycho-social impact of such incidents continues to have negative effects on both the learners and teachers.
The department said schools and communities in general are places where young children should feel and be safe.
“In all the cases the learners have consumed items bought from vendors and spaza shops in and around schools. The Department of Basic Education appreciates the work being done by various government departments and other organs of state to address the matter,” the department said.