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In a chilling development to the tragic story that unfolded in early October in a township south of Johannesburg, forensic investigations have shed light on the possible cause of death of six children. The children, aged between 6 and 9, tragically passed away after consuming chips from a local spaza shop. The Gauteng police have now revealed that banned insecticides, identified as carbamates, are likely to blame for the contamination of snacks that resulted in the severe poisoning.
Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni, during a press conference, emphasized the link to carbamates, a type of chemical used indiscriminately in some spaza shops to control pests. A systemic examination by the Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's initiative and a team of health inspectors uncovered traces of these chemicals in two nearby spaza shops. Although it is still unconfirmed if these shops are directly responsible for the children's deaths, the findings mark a grim trend in underprivileged areas where banned chemicals are still clandestinely in use.
In a sweeping crackdown, 80 health inspectors, along with experts from the National Institute For Communicable Diseases and officials from various government departments, embarked on a multidisciplinary operation. Their investigation turned dramatic when an inspection at a spaza shop in Naledi extension 1 resulted in the shop owner's short-lived attempt to escape, evidencing the distressing realities of compliance and enforcement issues within such communities.
Upon return to her shop, the Mozambican national denied using prohibited pest control methods. However, a thorough inspection revealed otherwise, as inspectors found a packet of banned insecticide likely originating from China. The substance was seized, and the spaza shop was ordered to cease operations pending further actions.
Belinda Makhafola, the deputy director of environmental health at the Health Department, highlighted that such hazardous substances are favored in households and businesses due to their heightened efficacy, causing a significant challenge in phasing out their usage. She pointed out that the battle isn't simply against the use of these chemicals but also against the supply chain that enables their reach into local communities.
As investigations continue, authorities are looking to track down the suppliers responsible for distributing the banned substances. Meanwhile, the community mourns the irreversible loss of its children and faces the daunting task of grappling with the realities of illegal pesticide use, public health, and safety.