Four suspects arrested for selling unregistered pesticides released on a warning

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police said that the four suspects arrested for selling unregistered pesticides have been released on a warning.

The men were nabbed after spaza shop owners in Soweto reported them to the police, following the deaths of six children in Naledi earlier this month.

On Monday, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that the children died after ingesting the pesticide organophosphate known as Terbufos.

Scientists are testing samples from their local spaza shop for the same pesticide after it was reported that the children died after sharing snacks.

Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said that the suspects who were not linked to the Naledi incident, were found at a mall in Johannesburg selling fertiliser farm feed, agriculture and stock remedies while unregistered to do so.

"We subsequently took them to the Johannesburg police station and we charged them. As an integrated team we were also advised by the department they could be released on warning. They paid R2,000 admission of guilt and were released as they are not the manufacturers.