Actonville police have opened inquest dockets after two children from Actonville in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, died after eating bread allegedly laced with poison last Friday.

The incident comes after two four-year-old children in Soweto died after allegedly eating biscuits from a foreign-owned spaza shop a few weeks ago, and two children aged two and three died after eating sweets and chips from a vendor in West Deep in Westonaria, Gauteng, earlier this month.

According to district communications officer Captain Neldah Sekgobela, it is alleged that an unknown man approached three children playing in the street at around 08:00 and gave them bread.

“An uncle of the children noticed one of them, a four-year-old boy, was unwell and he immediately took him to a local clinic. He died on arrival.”

Sekgobela says a few minutes later, two boys from the same house were admitted to the clinic with the same symptoms.

“They were treated and transferred to Tambo Memorial Hospital. One of the two children, a one-year-old boy, died in hospital on October 29,” says Sekgobela.

The age of the surviving child is not known at this stage.

Anyone who might have information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.