Boy (8) hospitalised after eating snacks from Mapetla spaza shop

JOHANNESBURG - A Soweto family has told Eyewitness News that their child has been hospitalised after eating snacks bought from a tuckshop in Mapetla. 

The eight-year-old boy was taken to a nearby clinic after complaining of persistent pain.

After his condition deteriorated, he was transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital over the weekend.

In 2024, at least 23 people, primarily children, died as a result of eating food bought from tuckshops.

Some of the children were confirmed to have died of poisoning linked to the agricultural pesticide terbufos.

This prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to call for the registration of all spaza shops.

The family of the young boy who was hospitalised over the weekend said doctors have informed them that poison has been detected in his body.

Family member Virginia Molobela said, “Chiawelo clinic confirmed that it is rat poison then they transfer to Bara also confirmed the name of the poison. On Saturday, the child could not breathe. The doctors said the heart is stopping.” 

The City of Johannesburg said it has since closed the tuck shop in the area after receiving reports about the child's condition. 

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