A suspected food poisoning incident has resulted in the deaths of two young children and the hospitalization of five others in the rural community of Msintsi Location, outside KuGompo near East London. The tragic event occurred on Saturday, prompting an urgent investigation by local health and municipal authorities.
The two deceased children, aged between four and seven, were declared dead on arrival at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane. They were among a group of seven children who all presented with severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
According to health officials, four of the affected children remain under treatment at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital. A fifth child, whose condition was more serious, was transferred to Frere Hospital in East London for advanced care. On Sunday, Eastern Cape Health MEC, Ntandokazi Capa, visited the hospital and provided an update, stating the child in ICU is now “out of danger.”
MEC Capa revealed that initial medical suspicion points to organophosphate poisoning, though she emphasized this is not yet confirmed. “It’s just a suspicion,” she said, “but we have said our specialists must do the postmortem on those who have passed on.”
The MEC shared details from a conversation with the hospitalized boy, who stated he had eaten chips. It is understood the children purchased the food themselves. Following the incident, the specific spaza shop involved has been closed, with police monitoring the premises.
In a heartfelt appeal, MEC Capa, who expressed her condolences to the bereaved families, urged parents to exercise greater vigilance. “I’m pleading with the parents to take care… Avoid giving them petty cash,” she said. “If you were to give them snacks, you must buy them from a reputable area or a shop so that you are able to monitor what is it that they are eating.”
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality has taken immediate action in the area, closing down all spaza shops as part of a compliance blitz to ensure adherence to health regulations and bylaws.
The District Environmental Health Unit has been formally activated to lead the investigation. MEC Capa confirmed the team would visit the location on Monday to begin their probe, while the health department works to fast-track postmortems and necessary tests to determine the definitive cause of the poisoning.
“This is really painful for us to lose those two innocent souls,” MEC Capa stated, as the community and authorities await answers in the wake of the tragedy.