Child in ICU, teen hospitalised after alleged contaminated snacks from local shop
After a young man and baby fell ill after allegedly eating products purchased at a tuck shop, angered residents gathered outside the shop to demand answers.
Disgruntled residents gathered outside a tuck shop in Hillside to address the owner after a child and a young adult fell ill from allegedly eating the shop’s products.
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The Randfontein Herald spoke to Sunnyboy Tselapedi’s (19) niece, Mampho Tselapedi. According to her, Sunnyboy bought a packet of chips from the tuck shop on Sunday, May 19.
After eating the chips, she said, he immediately showed signs of illness and struggled to eat. She added he was lying on the bed, unable to move.
Consequently, Mampho tried calling an ambulance, but it never arrived.
They decided to take Sunnyboy to a clinic where the nurse gave him medication.
“How was he supposed to drink the pills if he could hardly eat anything? He never ate anything after eating the chips,” Mampho remarked.
“It’s not right. How many children have to die? We always go to buy there at that tuck shop,” she concluded.
As the Herald arrived at Sunnyboy’s residence today, the ambulance departed to take him to a hospital.
The Herald also spoke to Beauty September, the grandmother of a one-year-old boy, Onthatile September, who ate yoghurt purchased from the tuck shop.
Beauty said Onthatile suddenly started experiencing fits.
Thereafter, Akanyang September (Onthatile’s mother) rushed her boy to a clinic where he was given paracetamol. When they left the clinic, the boy’s state worsened, and Akanyang immediately returned to the clinic. Beauty explained that the doctor advised it was best to take the child to a hospital, whereafter he was admitted to the ICU.
The tuck shop was surrounded by numerous residents seeking answers.
Even though the shop had closed its gate for safety purposes, the owner invited the Herald in.
“The ward councillor comes to this shop every week. The items are not expired. We always check the expiry dates. Inspectors come to check the shop’s regulations every month. People buy from my shop every day,” the owner said.
The police arrived around 14:20 to disperse the crowd.
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