Two teens die after allegedly consuming contaminated snacks
Following the two incidents, angry members of the community closed down spaza shops owned by foreign nationals in the area.
SHARPEVILLE. – Two families from Tshepiso, Sharpeville are struggling to come to terms with the death of two teenage children who lost their lives, after allegedly consuming contaminated snacks from local spaza shops owned by foreign nationals.
Itumeleng Nthinya, mother to Maloase Nthinya (17) Grade 11 pupil at Jet Nteo High School, says she came back from school eating an ice pop bought from a local shop 0n Wednesday, 18 October.
“When she came back from school, she went straight to bed. She later asked for water and when I went to go and check up on her, she was sweating heavily. I asked her what was going on, she said that she did not know. She later started vomiting, and we rushed her to Johan Heyns Clinic in Vanderbijlpark.
“On arrival at the clinic, they immediately attended to her but unfortunately, we lost her.”
Itumeleng says the death of her child has left her with many questions as she doesn’t know what really happened.
Mamosa Philane, the mother of 15-year-old Relebohile Philane a grade 8 pupil at Mahareng Secondary School, says her daughter started complaining of chest pains after consuming biscuits she bought from a spaza shop just a few meters from her home, on Friday 20 October.
“She was fine in the afternoon but later complained of a sharp pain in her chest. I asked her to explain to me what the pain felt like and she said it was like someone beat her. She later started vomiting and rolling her eyes and that’s when we took her to the Sharpeville clinic. She died while being attended to at the clinic. “
Mamosa said she was still in total disbelief regarding the death of her daughter.
“It’s like I’m dreaming, it feels like she will just walk into the house at any moment.”
Following the two incidents, furious community members on Saturday closed down spaza shops owned by foreign nationals in and around Tshepiso.
Police on the scene advised shop owners to close down their shops in order to avoid the ongoing community unrest.
Sedibeng Ster has inquired with police spokesperson Captain Fikile Funda.
