Swabs being tested to determine if pesticide present at Naledi spaza shop - Motsoaledi

JOHANNESBURG - Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi said swabs were being tested to determine whether the pesticide that caused the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto, was present at their local spaza shop.

Government gave an update on Monday, two weeks after the children fell ill and died after consuming snacks from the shop.

Motsoaledi announced that a pesticide known as organophosphates caused the deaths.

The health minister said while the six children in Naledi were found to have died from the ingestion of an organophosphate known as terbufos, the pesticide was not found in a packet of crisps that was found in the pocket of one of the children.

He said swabs from the spaza shop had also been taken for testing.

"This means that while organophosphate was found in the bodies of these children, we are still waiting to see if the same organophosphate was found in the spaza shop, so that we can scientifically link the events."

He said the children may have become more susceptible to the pesticide because of certain physiological factors.

"Children’s organs are still developing, making them more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides."

Motsoaledi said the National Health Laboratory Service would give results on whether a positive link could be drawn between the spaza shop and the pesticide behind the deaths in Naledi.