Traces of chemical used to kill insects found on food samples from 2 Naledi spaza shops - police
Officers confiscated the products during a raid following concerns raised by the community, after six children died earlier in October.
Five children died after consuming chips bought from a spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng police said that traces of a chemical used to kill insects were found on samples of food sold at two spaza shops in Naledi, Soweto, where six children recently died.
Officers confiscated the products during a raid following concerns raised by the community.
The children, aged between six and nine, died after allegedly eating snacks from the shops earlier in October.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni revealed the findings at a press briefing on Thursday morning.
"The pathologists reflected that it is carbamate. It is a bait that kills insects."
He said investigations were ongoing to determine if anyone will be criminally charged.
"Not to say somebody is not going to be held criminally liable, but [from] the investigation, yes of course, as they have taken the samples from those areas that it’s suspected [the children] might have taken that."