Memorial service to be held for 5 Naledi children who died of suspected food poisoning

JOHANNESBURG - A mass memorial service will be held for the five children who died in a suspected case of food poisoning in Soweto.

Gauteng Department of Education officials are expected to join the bereaved families at the Naledi Community Hall.

The children, aged between six and nine, died after allegedly consuming snacks bought from a spaza shop on Sunday.

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While the families and community of Naledi gather on Friday at the memorial service, many questions linger.

According to the community, the children were seen eating snacks purchased from two spaza shops on Thlathlane Street.

After their deaths, an angry mob forcefully entered the shops, looting and shutting them down.

Dineo Mphore, who was living in one of the shops with her daughters and partner, Daniel, has fled the area out of fear.

She said she has not heard from Daniel, who was renting the premises and running the shop.

"I haven't spoken to Daniel. But obviously, he ran away, because he even asked the people what he did. He wouldn't stay here and wait for the community to attack him because they'll kill him."

Police are investigating five inquest dockets, while evidence has been collected from the shops and sent for forensic analysis.