Food Poisoning | Eight children die after eating snacks from Soweto spaza shop

Some foreign-owned spaza shops in Naledi, Soweto have been closed shut down following the deaths of eight children under the age of 10.
It is alleged that the children consumed snacks bought from a local spaza shop over the weekend.
SABC News Reporter Mbalenthle Mthethwa spoke to one mother.
For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

[@15th_century]

EFF and ANC should be taken to court for defending their foreign criminals

[@DrAndy_Alpha]

These are Pakistani owned shops

[@cebile1493]

@@DrAndy_Alpha aren't Pakistanis foreigners????

[@MissSlenda]

I stand with you on this one. This is getting out of hand. There are way too many children lives lost because of these evil people in our communities. Our government is cleaning in front of Palestines door but yet can't sweep infron of its own door with every month children dying because of these illegal shops. It pains me as a parent of children losing they lives to these evil people that strangers to us as citizens. I wish the country could stand together and donate money to take the government to court. This is too much

[@nandiqwabaza4458]

Yhoo this is sad betunana

[@thembalethuzuma9696]

and the NGOs please dont forget them also human right commition

[@mkramawelaking2007]

This is simple, close all this nonsense spaza shops, this is crisis and it need disaster management in government departments both with minister of health to attend it as ASAP

[@alexburnside3741]

last week was the Spar brand Top Score instant porridge. We need stricter health and safety inspections at all food outlets. Also all food imports n manufactures. That porridge last week came from Namibia. I remember few years ago it was baby formular big companys like nestle. Everyone will forget in a few days. So sad for the loved ones😢😢

[@criticallyspeaking]

Where is the ANC? Where is the Minister ? Why aren't they saying anything?

[@MissSlenda]

There's nothing that makes my blood boil like this nonsense of these abo myfriend spaza shops and our community that continues to buy from those people. It pains me that parents don't protect they children by standing together and closing those shops. Instead, they continue buying and don't take get lawyers to take this government to court. The same energy this government of ours has by swapping in front of other countries' doors by taking Isreal to court but fail to clean in front of the own door. These communities must ask for funds from public for lawyers. This stupid government is sickening to the bone.

[@Ntandokazi08]

​@alexburnside3741 funny enough all these big retailers are protected Its like a cult of epic proportions This is sooo sad my Lord Please show Your power We need you in South Africa

[@Professor_Stark]

I feel this woman’s pain 💔. Police need to investigate the shop owner and someone has to be held accountable.

[@busisiwemichelle5391]

And tjere must be a solution to this they always investigate and and but no solution this thing keep on repeating repeating its a cycle now but no solution insite its soo heartbreaking kids are dying like

[@thembelanisithole4991]

In Katlehong there is not even a single of them, they were kicked out and all the the spazas are running by the locals. Yes it took a couple of months for things to be normal but it happened and that is part of township economy

[@MissSlenda]

I can't understand our people they busy wanting to be shocked when these things make headlines but still continue forcing these people to be in they communities. In my area, we dont want them either. We have 1 shop and are 1 of our own that opened that shop. This is very painful, and the saddest part is that innocent children have to pay the price where as adults are not doing anything or demanding them back in they communities.

[@thembelanisithole4991]

@@MissSlenda so sad

[@thembimsipha2428]

This is very sad my deepest condolences to families who lost their children 😭😭😭😭

[@zamilemazibuko4167]

Don't you think our kids are being poisoned slowly

[@lulamasithole7828]

I think so labantu bazosiqeda ngoba silele

[@zamilemazibuko4167]

@@lulamasithole7828 vele, ama weapons don't always mean guns and bombs.

[@nompumelelomdodana3867]

Dilbertalely so. It started with the drugs.

[@leemanfatima3615]

This can't go on like this. Never. Where is the government. Who is giving our children rat poison. Every time you hear of these innocent little ones dying. It must stop.

[@angelbovana148]

What is going on? I think something big is happening...this can't be a co incident. Last week it was 3 kids in mdantsane now 8....and others ate noodles .....something is going on.😢

[@sifisodube4686]

Are country it’s in a mess shame ANC it’s cancer it must be rooted out next election

[@takuramutasa1529]

These Spaza by Somaliland and Indians should be banned .... Unless some politician is also eating from them... These people manufacturer everything it's high time people boycot these so called cheap products..

[@jameskillu9171]

You dont want to mention. Spar brand Top Score instant porridge,

[@takuramutasa1529]

@@jameskillu9171 nop actually forgot that one ,we are dying Becoz of not having our African companies manufacturer our own food.. GMOs,fake products etc

[@angielsomi8392]

​@@takuramutasa1529 What about Spar??? You Coward!!! Any shop claim a life must be closed not just ABO my Friend.... Stop being Cowards South Africans let's unite and protect our kids our country stop being threatened by whites if they sell expired food also must Go Down period!!!

[@mzansipunters4295]

This is very sad, I thought these spazas were shut down last month, what happened?

[@TheHuny85]

The people of Soweto wanted them back ,because they give them credit on food .

[@geraldinefrank3388]

oh my word, this is so evil, this government needs to shut all these spaza shops down, this is crazy

[@babalwanyosi2421]

I’m so sorry 😭😭

[@Proudly_South_African]

ABAHAMBE!! ABAHAMBE!! ABAHAMBE!!

[@jameskillu9171]

Spar brand Top Score instant porridge is not sold in SPAZA shops.

[@sizwemalevu6069]

So what, abahambe

[@amogelangselota]

​@@jameskillu9171 yoh wena always interfering in south African news as if o citizen.😂😂

[@zandingxekisukombatha5595]

​@jameskillu9171 You're always ready to defend foreigners in SA but fail to fight for your own rights in your very own country. Bloody coward when are you confronting mnangagwa?

[@xoliswasolombela7631]

Our leaders are quiet. and yet the children are kidnapped,dying of food poisoning

[@alexburnside3741]

So true..our leaders need to reign in on people running the spaza shops...theirs no health n safety inspections on these stores inspite of all the incidents. 😢😢

[@korryt7705]

We need to stop seeing them as our leaders and start seeing them as the enemies they are

[@mecharamorula4660]

They are not quiet. The ANC voted against investigation of foreigners' spazas in KZN townships.

[@NtombifuthiMabusela-qw8uh]

There is something they gaining in this. Like you see these trucks that goes n come back from Zimbabwe n other foreign countries anc ppl own them so it will be difficult to say illegal foreigners must go cos something illegal is happening with this trucks ​@@mecharamorula4660

[@MpiloSibeko-u5b]

The are busy with Palestine

[@LydiaMonyebodi]

Ga ba tsamaye finish n klaar

[@thandigloria8710]

It was circulated on media a long time ago, approximately 3 years ago that the foreigners were going to do this, especially the ones from Pakistan but South Africans ignored that by allowing them to rent in their spaces for quick cash.

[@cebile1493]

Atleast I'm not alone who's thinking about this

[@roshronroopram3645]

Greed

[@MissSlenda]

Our people are very foolish and evil themselves. Parents still sending the children to go and buy goods from those shops and giving children money to buy sweets where as they can buy sweets when they go to the mall once a month but they ignore it all. I stopped buying my children sweets and hardly bought from these shops for my children. I think I only bought 2-3 times back then and never again. When I do go to the mall for other reasons I always go in by shoperite/Game and buying sweets. The sister at the clinic also advised me never to buy from the spaza shops, and I was very proud, stating i dont buy any sweets from spaza shops for my children

[@ViginiaMolai]

Worse part is those Pakistani people don't eat the goods that they are selling us. There's a reason for that

[@TsekoMofokeng-v2o]

​@@MissSlenda Noted

[@melli2024mk]

This is heartbreaking indeed... may their souls rest in peace. Something urgent needs to be done to stop this

[@Private_accountsssssss]

There is clearly a ministry that is not doing it's job but we pay taxes. Our kids are under attack

[@Ayanda846]

A lot of things been happening lately in this country.. something's really wrong maaan

[@athenkosigwelesha1263]

They must go please, this is too much now😢😢😢😢

[@martinmuller7127]

lol... where must they go...

[@MissSlenda]

​@@martinmuller7127This is not a laughing matter. These are children lives that were taken away from evil people that the community trusted. What you mean, where must they go, where are they from? Let's start there. From a mother's point of view, this is painful, and you are busy asking where they must go? Just because it doesn't affect you or your children doesn't mean we must still be nice to those evil people. Foolish

[@martinmuller7127]

@@MissSlenda it's you mothers that fail society... why must i look out for your kids....

[@martinmuller7127]

your kids grow up to be what exactly.... do you see white kids do this kind of thing.... eating from foreign shops... it's a joke... they support SA shops...

[@alexburnside3741]

I really think we should fight for Gayton to be made the minister of home affairs... I really changed my mind about this guy...he means business. We need more ministers to take their work serious.

[@irishowes5123]

This has nothing to do with minister of home Affairs. The president must stand up and shut down everything.

[@tsholofelomatau6279]

It has everything to do with the minister, if he is weak there is nothing the president can do about it, but if we have someone who is firm in what they do, then the president will support and approve, I agree Gayton must take over HA I was saying this the other day

[@MissSlenda]

By the time Gayton becomes a president it will be already way too late for every South African in this country because the few South Africans that will still be around by that time will be foreigners in they own country. Every day, South Africans are dying in their numbers, including the children. Hay guys, let's be realistic.

[@trumpet835]

🇿🇦🇿🇦❤️👍

[@mvelimzobe383]

I wonder why people still buy from these shops? They must stop supporting shops that sells expired food.

[@lusandanonketha654]

Shops are cheap,we buy on credit 😢

[@siphiwengcobo2279]

​@@lusandanonketha654so you rather buy cheap things and die or save your life by not buying from them? That's why they say South Africans are stupid

[@fofs3084]

The Departments responsible for food safety clearly aren't doing their jobs. Be it makhula's or those fly by night sweet and biscuit factories. There's no regulation, no consequences, and no one takes accountability. You should recognize there's a problem with the land when little babies like this are robbed of their lives.

[@virginiaerasmus7077]

So true this is very sad.

[@elainemaynier297]

Why is this pakistani/somali shop's still allowed to operate in our communities WHY WHY WHY EVERY TIME children are dying, until when are we as south African's going to say Rip and is that all we are going to say UNTIL THE NEXT CHILD!!!!💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@BettyVongani]

😢 drugs, food poisoning, kidnapping and all sort of horrific incidents keep expanding in our country

[@mlazakenna276]

And we keep complaining on social media then go out laugh with them having forgotten all these. Problem as South Africans we are divided and they already know that weakness. Most heartbreaking thing those guys are disrespectful 💔💔💔

[@riavas245]

Painful truth

[@ntombifuthisenanela2308]

😭😭💔💔💔

[@pennynapo128]

This is how they retaliate because they know the government is working to clean them up, so they are targeting women and children. And our society and government are not aware

[@martinmuller7127]

it's a black thing....

[@NeneShabangu]

Yoooooooh aboMy Friend Nkosi yam 😢. Where are Health Inspectors to check these shops and close all that don't meet the right requirements

[@delcardo123]

My condolences to the families ❤️🙏 These SPAZA SHOPS continue to sell expired and or contaminated food and the government is not doing enough. When will this stop?

[@SamanthaMwale-p5k]

This is very sad..i can feel this ladys pain and healing fr her wont be easy..may the babies souls rest in peace

[@martinmuller7127]

so sad... you need the white man in your life....

[@surajboo9334]

This is sad because kids don't read dates 😢

[@6lackjesus719]

Dates have nothing to do with rat poisin.

[@jbadianyama]

Which snack was it? Why do they never reveal the name? How did rat poison get into it? 😢😢😢😢😢

[@nanleonanleo8643]

Why they don't show as thi snack,

[@shirrene641]

All those mother's who lost their children please except my deepest condolences 😢

[@MapulaAphane-b5t]

I'm so sorry for your loss, as well as that of other women. The community needs to be aware of this, and I believe they are doing so on purpose given what is going on in their country. 😞😞

[@tweet4132]

A thorough investigation must be done. Where is the police?

[@cookingwithbeautybaking7526]

No no no mawavalwe lama tuckshop ziyaphela ingane please

[@thembelanisithole4991]

Sadly I heard that in some parts of soweto where they were chased away the community is turning around saying they must come back. If it's because the spa as are closed and they are struggling to get items to buy, they must see to it that the locals take over. You can't call back the devil who killed you. If they cannot keep those spazas running, they have a bigger problem, introspection. M sorry to hear this sad story and abahambe

[@ziphezinhlezee2120]

So sad ..benza ngambomu..

[@ginalolli3477]

So incredibly sad.

[@bongekahabe9656]

Jesus😢😢😢

[@tkasiam8322]

I think its time we stop complaining on social media, gather ourselves, insist to Ramaphosa since he clearly doesn't care about the black poor people, and insist he place Minister Gayton as Minister of home affairs. If he also fails, it's then that we, as concerned citizens of this country ,we see what to do since we are clearly running out of time.

[@trumpet835]

❤

[@theresia6478]

Where are our political leaders in the midst of this?

[@mecharamorula4660]

They are busy out there voting against investigation of foreign owned spazas in KZN

[@jameskillu9171]

gayton is a minister, and kunene is a MMC what more do you need

[@lulamasithole7828]

​@@jameskillu9171hamba wena uyodla indlovu kini,uyeke indaba zethu

[@Christdiedforoursins1Corinthia]

So did they eat actual contaminated food or just Poison? Shame man this is terrible so many kids have died . government needs to shut the shops down and investigate The area .

[@Truthbetold-b4u]

That shop shown on this video looks scary 😢even those walking on the streets and selling they need to be careful where they buy 😭😭😭😭😭😭sorry mommy

[@alexburnside3741]

awe my dear my heart felt condolences...💔 Not easy losing your loved one. The 😢😢😢Pain n hurt..💔💔💕May these babies young children rest in piece.

[@JayZan145]

Whats the name of the snacks? Sizele bakithi😢 kubuhlungu

[@pontshomosoatsi3301]

The people of Soweto to stop buying from those spaza shops,stop supporting them!this is not the first time and our authories are failing us,this is sad indeed.

[@Nkosingiphile-q3s]

NITHINI BAHLALI....NITHULILE NJE NIBHEKILE.......

[@naledindlovu976]

Askies Mama😢💔

[@RaviGengan]

This is sad,very sad indeed!!!!!!This is what happens when these Spaza shop owners dont comply with the south African laws with regards to food safety standards in our country.A lot(if not most) of these spaza shops dont even have the necessary licences(or permits) as required .Who does inspections and how often????Too many shortcuts.The laws must change.....people selling foods on the streets must have necessary permits ,practice proper hygiene standards,etc,etc.....

[@6lackjesus719]

Guys Xoshani labantu. Yes the rubbish media will call us xenophobic, it's fine..we're used to it. Kodwa xoshani labantu !!!!! 😣😣😣

[@GloriandlalaAKAmamap1]

I feel pain,so sad to loose your children like this 😭

[@InnocentKamhiripiri-oq5gi]

I am a foreigner and feel very saddened by the loss of innocent young lives. My question is why would any normal person mix food with poison. For what purpose?😊

[@MJoale]

Why would you post a smiley face? Children, innocent children are dead. When South Africans revolt and foreigners are forced out of the country, you will begin to regret such things. No compassion for the people of the country that offers so many refuge.

[@martharuider1294]

I am so sorry sissy! I am wishing you all the strength dear. Please accept my condolencence!

[@maybe12985]

South Africa is under attack...

[@NevilleMntungwa]

Is so sad at the same time im happy some of our South Africans have learned the something out of this they've been chased out of soweto

[@ZikhonaPantshwa-qs6jn]

All these things happening recently, its a sacrifice but a lot dont know and wont understand

[@Ayanda846]

A sacrifice for what kodwa

[@ZikhonaPantshwa-qs6jn]

@@Ayanda846 for this money that SA is given by other countries. It's deeper than we can understand

[@cebile1493]

​@@ZikhonaPantshwa-qs6jnhence why our leaders are quiet???....okay sharp

[@RagnarGartnar]

My face have been swollen for 3 days cos I bought fake grandpas at a somalian tuck shop

[@ezinhlemavundla4348]

its getting bad day by day YES indeed we are living in the LAST DAYS JEHOVA AWUZE UMBUSO WAKHO

[@dorothymokgadi9360]

The government won't do anything, if community's won't stand up and show the government that enough is enough

[@trumpet835]

❤

[@SnowQueenie]

No leadership in our country

[@Amahle361]

I stopped buying anything to eat from these people the day I compared their simba chips and the ones that are from simba. I knew something was fishy, I stopped.

[@patriciaradebe8237]

Sorry about ur loss dis is so painful

[@ZaneleZwane-g2r]

Abahambe labantu kushiswe le paza ngoba ayiqali kwenzeka lento naku sobuswa abantu banga phandle 😢😢

[@everythingButTheRat]

People of Naledi what are you doing about this? Are you doing anything or just siiting and doing ABSOLUTEY NOTHING?? What happened to the FIGHTING SPIRIT of Naledi residents??

[@nanleonanleo8643]

They have to show us the company that supplies them those snacks. The root cause. May their souls rest in peace

[@EverythingEntertainment3]

This is so sad 😱

[@Born_A_Star]

I know a community they sent abo my friend away from the location. Funny thing is those opened their shop are now stocking by abo my friend..... If you are in ratanda Heidelberg you will know

[@ZaneleZwane-g2r]

Yoh yaz yabuhlungu ndaba yengane kwaze kwanzima akaboshe lo my friend

[@normaboutlwanye9965]

This is so sad😢😢😢my deepest condolences to you Mommy👏👏👏

[@janomesteve3129]

But still they will support these spaza shops

[@ChwayitaMboxela]

How can you poison food and be be so evil to sell the poisoned food to community ??how can such shops still operate 💔💔💔

[@anticorrup-g5o]

Sorry Mommy, so sorry, the mothers in SA are broken with you.

[@thabithamotaung1820]

We are very lenient SA citizens. We know these people are known for this evil agenda

[@coetzersharon1249]

Noooo this is so horrible!!!! So sorry this is very bad

[@Elina-q5u]

I'm sorry

[@NonhlanhlaKhumalo-cg7ci]

💔💔😭 Ohhh mama so sorry hle

[@reitumetsekhitsane]

Askies mama😢😢😢

[@DineoMaleke]

My condolences to you and your family 😢

[@NOPexwhyzee]

I’m so tired of hearing this type of story…why is any South African still buying food from foreigners in 2024?🙄

[@ellabella7653]

I am so very sad for all the families of these poor children 😢

[@apostleblessingsjamboh160]

This is very sad ooooo Lord have mercy

[@shazy-wp4ko]

But still us SAns gave them our garage to rent them,let this spaza shop rent sandon selling this to our politician's kids so that they can feel what we feel😢

[@I_am_tsetse]

This is very hard breaking 😭

[@ActiveSide-ud3nh]

This seems to appear as a deliberate attack on south africans, and unfortunately, the majority of victims will be Black communities, particularly through the widespread presence of unregulated spaza shops. Children buy snacks from these shops without parental supervision, and even when they do, there are no health inspections or quality standards enforced. Many of these spaza shops operate without registration or accountability.

[@jessicabradley6657]

Deepest condolences may the Lord comfort the families.

[@lesterkjack411]

The unbearable pain .nation must stand up and mourn .

[@nomsamawarire6406]

This is so sad😢😢😢😢😢.

[@SurprisedAurora-hv7rk]

So sad Condolences

[@pastorpatricianhlapho4917]

This sad for any parent. Condolences

[@thulynkabinde1563]

Stop supporting them and abahambe

[@BasiliahWellness-jl2is]

It's a tragedy. SA citizens stop buying from abo-myfriend. This has been going on for the past. 3 years. We bury these kids and move on. It's time South Africans stand up in honor of the kids that lost their lives through food poisoning The government is not doing anything

[@Christdiedforoursins1Corinthia]

What i thought it was 5 this is terrible ..parents must teach children not to eat sweets from just anywhere or anyone, community needs to be careful where they put poison .service delivery needs to pick up rubbish people need to try keep areas free of things rats eat ,shops need to be checked too.this is crazy.either contaminated food or possibly deliberate or an accident.

[@NthabisengSeatle]

Abahambe stop buying from my friend

[@SyriaNtswe-gy7ck]

Sorry😢

[@nyambenimuladi4726]

Is it five or eight children?

[@jessicabradley6657]

How is that important even if it's one can you jus have respect and extend your condolences. How were you raisedn😮😮 ???

[@sugabooify]

​@jessicabradley6657 Haibo it's just a question

[@spelingmistake]

tears YET 0 vocal distortion 0 stuttering 0 male console next day Psyop

[@lilianhaggland2031]

So very very sorry

[@DanSchultz-j3f]

My hart goes out to the perants may lord give them strength to go on

[@njabulokhumalo1380]

Condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.

[@ancient_knowledge_7]

Now more than ever, it is important to protect the poor. We need to track where our food comes from and ask questions in our communities. Is all the violence, water problems, and power sabotage we see just a coincidence? Those in government who care must step in and take action.

[@bongekilesibiya8736]

Lama shop ngibona engathi asetshenziswa u sathane kusebenza amadimoni

[@diikgetseramasekasepenyane6716]

The government must enforce the immigration act 13 of 2002 section 15 and 29 that deals with the areas that are called informal like Spaza-shops, salon, Selling Veggies and Hawkers those are sectors that are reserved for locals only. My sincere condolences to the family and friends of the bereaved families

[@Nunec]

This is beyond tragic, I am sorry for the losses. Something fishy is going on, I suspect sabotage, someone did this to tarnish the Pakistanis. Why would the shop owners shoot themselves in the foot

[@anelemavundla6864]

Angithi klezitolo zabo kugcwele amagundane ngoba kuwubunuku shuth poison bawufak kyon yonke😢😢😢 m hurt...Ngaphuma kbona mhla ngithenga i colgate enganayo i mint ne grandpa engababi😢😢😢😢 mu deepest condolesces to families