A MUM from Tsakane in Ekurhuleni sent her kids to buy tomatoes from a nearby hawker on Friday, 5 January, but when they returned, they also brought two packs of puff chips which they kept hidden from her.
Innocent errand turns tragic
Upon their return, the kids allegedly handed over the tomatoes and sneaked into their room to eat the puff chips which were allegedly laced with rat poison.
This resulted in nine-year-old Thembinkosi Ngema losing his life while his three siblings, aged 11, six and four are fighting for their lives at Pholosong Hospital.
When questioned, the hawker claimed that the rat poison-laced chips were intended for rats damaging his car's wiring, and the children stole them.
Hawker arrested and released
Although the hawker was arrested and an inquest docket was opened, Captain Nelda Sekgobela said he was released on the advice of the prosecutor.
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"We are waiting the toxicology results, and his movements are limited until the investigations are completed,” she said.
Devastated mum Zanele Khumalo (37) said she had always been against her kids eating snacks following previous reports of children getting sick or dying.
"They kept them hidden from me because they knew I was against that," she said.
Heartbreaking moments in the dark room
Zanele said they were eating the snacks in the dark and she heard her son Thembinkosi calling one of his siblings to bring the candle closer as he felt like he ate soil particles or dried rat faeces.
It was only then that Thembinkosi started shaking and gasping for air and she knew something was wrong.
His parents rushed him to the hospital, but he died before they got there, and he was certified dead by doctors.
"Doctors asked me what Thembinkosi had eaten as he showed signs of poisoning and I remember them eating snacks with his siblings," she said.
She said doctors asked for all the other siblings to be brought to the hospital as well.
Grieving mum's plea
The heartbroken mum said she wants the hawker to be liable for the costs of the funeral and to also face the full might of the law.
"He claimed to have put the poisoned snacks on the ground outside his stall. He could have known better that children are children. That was negligent of him, " she said.
Zanele said she sent them to buy tomatoes to quickly prepare supper before load shedding.
'I wish something could have warned me that I was sending them to their death, maybe I could have changed my mind," cried the mum.
