Family speak out about children from eMbalenhle who fell sick after eating sweets
Despite the children being discharge from hospital, the Tshabalala family is dissatisfied with how the eMbalenhle SAPS handled their case.
Four children from the Tshabalala family in eMbalenhle were discharged from the Evander Hospital on July 18 after being hospitalised the previous day.
The children allegedly fell ill after eating sweets bought from a local tuck shop on July 17.
According to family member Rosina Tshabalala, the ordeal began when one of the girls came home and asked for food. After being given a meal, she began vomiting uncontrollably.
“I started giving her water, but she didn’t stop. She was weakening, so we rushed her to a local doctor, who referred us to the Evander Hospital,” said Tshabalala.
While still at the hospital, the family received a call that another child had also begun vomiting and had a runny stomach. Shortly thereafter, the remaining two children, who were still at home, also showed similar symptoms and were rushed to the hospital.
“Earlier that day, when the first child started vomiting, I asked her sibling what they had eaten. He said they only ate sweets they bought from the tuck shop,” Tshabalala added.
In response to the incident, residents of extensions 4 and 9 in eMbalenhe took matters into their own hands on July 18 and shut down all tuck shops operated by foreign nationals.
This decision will remain in effect until the authorities release a report on the cause of the children’s illness. Despite the children being discharged, the Tshabalala family is dissatisfied with how the eMbalenhle SAPS handled their case.
Tshabalala said that after the children were hospitalised, a doctor advised them to report the matter to the police.
However, upon arriving at the station, they were only given J88 forms meant to be completed by a medical professional after a case had been formally opened.
“We were shocked when we returned to the hospital with the J88 forms because the doctor told us the police must first open a case and give us a case number for the forms. That never happened.
“The police only took our statement. They never gave us a case number, and now we’re stuck with incomplete J88 forms,” said Tshabalala.
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Adding to their frustration, the family alleges they were poorly treated at the police station.
“What was most concerning was the attitude of the officers at the front desk. They refused to open a case for us, and none of them wore name tags, though we can identify them,” Tshabalala said.
The community continues to wait for official feedback on the investigation, while concerns mount over food safety and the conduct of local law enforcement.
The Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane, said the police have opened an enquiry. If the doctor who has examined the children confirms that they have indeed consume poison, a criminal case will be opened.
Ndubane said they are also awaiting for the court’s advice on the matter. She appealed to the Tshabalala family to go back to eMbalenhle SAPS and meet the station commander who will will assist them with the J88 forms.
