Lesedi Maaboi's mother & brother discharged from hospital after fighting for lives in suspected food contamination case

JOHANNESBURG - The mother and brother of Lesedi Maaboi, who died in a case of suspected food contamination, are back home after spending three days in hospital.

Maria Maaboi and her 4-year-old son, Refentse, fell seriously ill after eating a packet of chips brought home by Lesedi, who bought it from a local store in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg. 

The family soon developed worrying symptoms including nausea, stomach cramps and difficulty breathing.

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They were rushed to a nearby clinic, where Lesedi was declared dead on arrival.

On the day of the tragedy, following the passing of Lesedi, her mother, Maria, and brother, Refentse, were transferred to the Edenvale Hospital for treatment where doctors managed to stabilise the pair. 

While the duo have now been discharged, an investigation into the cause of their illness is still underway.

The incident triggered outrage in Alexandra, with residents protesting outside the spaza shop where the snacks were allegedly purchased, calling for stronger food safety measures at local stores.

Lesedi’s funeral service is set to take place this weekend in Limpopo.