Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi says a type of pesticide was the cause of death of 6 children in Naledi in Soweto earlier this month. He says toxicology results show they all had organophosphates in their bodies.
During a press briefing on Monday morning, Motsoaledi stressed that health inspectors have not yet found the source of the pesticide poisoning, as the results of samples, taken from dozens of Spaza shops last week are still outstanding.
The Health Minister says they have now established that this was not food poisoning, due to the specific symptoms presented by the children.
READ: Health Department embarks on “urgent” inspections in Soweto
The Health Minister specifically mentioned “Terbufos” as the culprit, an agricultural insecticide with neurotoxic effects, often sold as a street pesticide in South Africa.
The African Centre for Bio-Diversity says this pesticide is often decanted and sold for use in informal markets without the correct label or warnings. It is thought that many informal communities use it to kill rats.
Children and adolescents are the most vulnerable group and high incidences of poisonings are recorded every year.
Meanwhile, the National Health Laboratory Services are busy analysing the samples taken from 84 Spaza shops, to determine whether there is a link.
Importantly, analysis was also done on a chips packet found in the pocket of one of the young victims, but no traces of organophosphates were found.
The specific Spaza shop where the children allegedly bought the chips from, whom the community initially blamed for the deaths, was shut down shortly after the children died.
Previously it was reported that the cause of death was carbamates – the Health Minister says it has now been established this is not the case.
Four people were arrested last week for selling illegal Aldicarb – which is a carbamate-based pesticide. They are thus not linked to the deaths of the 6 children, as there were no traces of carbamate found in the children’s bodies.
Organophosphates are known to be much more lethal than Carbamates.
He has cautioned against the use of Terbufos in domestic settings.
