Cops Appeal to Gauteng Community To Avoid Acting After Girl, 9, Dies From Suspected Poisoning
- Police are investigating an inquest after a nine-year-old girl child died from suspected food poisoning in Alexandra
- The child's mother and younger sibling were rushed to hospital for treatment after reporting chest and stomach pains
- Tensions escalated in the north Johannesburg township following the incident on Saturday night, 2 November
- Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told Briefly News a joint multi-disciplinary probe was underway
Source: Original
ALEXANDRA — Gauteng police monitored the tense scenes outside a spaza shop in Alexandra Township, north of Johannesburg CBD, following the suspected food poisoning death of a child.
It comes after a mother and her two children consumed suspected tainted snacks on Saturday, 2 November 2024.
Cops ask for calm after Alex girl, 9, dies
One of the minors, who, according to the police information, is a nine-year-old girl, died. Their mother, Maria Molaudi, and her four-year-old son were reportedly taken to Edenvale Hospital.
PAY ATTENTION: Briefly News Needs Your Help! Take our Survey Now and See Improvements at Briefly.co.za Tomorrow
Molaudi remained in critical condition on Sunday after they reported severe chest and stomach cramps at about 7pm the night before.
Meanwhile, enraged community members gathered at the spaza and vandalised the structure, tearing off its roof.
Briefly News understands the shop owner approached Alexanda police to open a malicious damage to property case.
Shops around the area remained closed amid an increasingly volatile situation. Police called for calm while investigating an inquest case.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told Briefly News health experts would assist detectives in probing the incident.
"We have established a team of detectives, working with other experts, to investigate the death," said Nevhuhulwi.
Calls heighten for intervention
In related news, Briefly News reported that the escalating food poisoning crisis has been taken to the doors of the Public Protector.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) heightened calls for intervention as the province and other parts of South Africa continued to record incidents in its letter to the Chapter 9 institution dated 22 October 2024.
Gauteng has recorded over 294 food poisoning cases since February, including in Ekurhuleni, Focheville, Tshwane and Soweto, resulting in at least 16 deaths.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
