A grandmother in Naledi, Soweto, is living through unimaginable grief after the tragic loss of her grandson, Isago Mabote (8), who died after allegedly consuming poisoned snacks. On Sunday, 6 October, what started as a typical day of playing with friends turned into a nightmare for the family.
Agnes Mabote, Isago’s grandmother, shared her heartbreaking account of the events leading up to his death. She recalled how her grandson had left the house that day to play with his friends, only to return later acting unusually. “He kicked the door as he entered, and when scolded for his behavior, he complained about feeling dizzy and shaky,” Agnes said.
Isago told his grandmother, “Gogo, I am shaking, I am dizzy,” before collapsing in front of her. He begged for help, but his condition quickly worsened. His body began trembling uncontrollably, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Agnes, concerned but unsure of the cause, tried to comfort him. “I took off his T-shirt to cool him down. He kept saying, ‘I am shaking, I went to the park, felt dizzy, and decided to come home.’ I thought he was just playing.”
As the moments passed, it became clear that this was no joke. Isago’s heartbeat raced, and his symptoms intensified. In a gut-wrenching moment, he repeated the words that now haunt his grandmother: “I am going to die, I’m going to die.” Despite her efforts to reassure him that he would be okay, his condition continued to deteriorate.
Agnes encouraged him to lie down beside her, thinking rest would help, but Isago grew more restless. He started vomiting a brown substance and mentioned that he had eaten *amazimba* (traditional snacks). The vomiting worsened, and brown liquid also started coming out of his nose. Despite attempts to give him milk, hoping to alleviate the poisoning, nothing seemed to help.
His condition spiraled further out of control, and as Agnes held him, she noticed his eyes rolling back, his body unable to respond. Desperate, the family rushed him to the dining room and then to a nearby healthcare center, but by that time, it was too late. Isago was unresponsive, his breathing labored, and it seemed as if something was choking him.
The nightmare did not end there. As they rushed to the healthcare center, they learned that Isago’s friend, Karabo Rampou (8), had also fallen ill with the same symptoms. Agnes, already overwhelmed, saw Karabo’s lifeless body as they hurried to the hospital. “On our way, I could see that Karabo was gone. His eyes were open, but there was no response,” she recalled.
Both Isago and Karabo were pronounced dead at Bheki Mlangeni Hospital, just 30 minutes after their arrival. While still processing the loss of her grandson, Agnes was informed that two more of their friends had died under similar circumstances at different clinics in the area, while another child remained in critical condition.
The cause of the tragedy remains unclear, but all the children had reportedly eaten snacks before their deaths. The devastated families now seek answers and justice for their loss.
This tragic incident has shaken the Naledi community, leaving parents in fear and mourning the loss of their young ones. Authorities are investigating the source of the alleged poisoned snacks, hoping to prevent further tragedies.