A year has passed since the tragic deaths of two children in Naledi, Soweto, who allegedly consumed biscuits bought from a local spaza shop. Despite the time that has elapsed, their families remain without answers, as they have yet to receive postmortem results or any official updates on the investigation into their deaths.
Leon Jele and Neo Khang, two children who passed away in October 2023, left their families in a state of limbo. Tshepo Williams, the uncle of Leon Jele, expressed the family’s frustration, saying they have repeatedly sought answers from the police. “We’ve gone to the police station several times, constantly asking for updates. Every time, we’re told that investigations take time. But for us, it feels like the case has gone cold, and we are begging for information,” said Williams.
Williams added that despite their efforts, the family has yet to be informed of the actual cause of Leon’s death. “No one has come to our home to explain what happened to our boy. We’re completely in the dark, and it’s terrifying to think the same could happen to another family.”
### Ongoing Pain and Lack of Answers
Mathoto Khang, the grandmother of Neo Khang, also expressed her pain and confusion over the lack of information. She revealed that she had received no updates on Neo’s postmortem results, with only minimal information provided by the mortuary. “All we know is that it’s food poisoning. But when I went to the police for more details, they told me the clothes Neo vomited on were still being tested in Pretoria. That was months ago, and we’re still waiting,” said Khang.
The emotional toll on Khang and her family has been immense. She shared that the past year has been filled with sleepless nights and unbearable grief. “It’s incredibly painful to lose a child and have no answers. My daughter dreams about Neo being alive and wakes up crying. I promised my child that I would find out what happened and take the results to Neo’s grave. But how can I do that when we don’t know the truth?”
### Authorities Deny Food Poisoning from Biscuits
Adding to the families’ frustration, Joburg MMC for Health and Social Development, Ennie Makhafola, made a public statement on the matter. Makhafola confirmed that the deaths of Leon and Neo were not caused by food poisoning from the biscuits they ate. According to postmortem results, the substance that poisoned the children did not come from the snacks consumed.
Makhafola urged the community to be vigilant about household substances, especially poisons used for rodent control. “We need to make sure our children don’t have access to harmful substances. We also need to educate the community to prevent further tragedies.”
### Community Outrage and Recent Deaths
The Naledi community has been deeply affected by the deaths of five more children who recently consumed snacks allegedly purchased from a spaza shop. A seven-year-old boy remains in intensive care, and the grieving families are hoping his survival may provide crucial answers.
Tensions in the community have been rising, with residents demanding the closure of all spaza shops owned by foreign nationals. Residents like Mamokete Motseki expressed their heartbreak and distrust, saying, “We’re in pain. After hearing that the recent deaths were linked to snacks from the spaza shop, we want these shops closed. We need to find out what’s really killing our children.”
Koppie Legodi, another community member, stated that they had peacefully requested the shop owners to shut down their stores for the safety of the children. “We don’t know what killed these kids, but we want to be safe. This can’t keep happening without someone being held accountable.”
### Awaiting Justice
Both Williams and Khang empathize with the families of the five recently deceased children, understanding the long and painful journey ahead. “We know the pain of waiting for answers that never come. It’s devastating,” said Williams.
The families remain hopeful that justice will be served and that the truth about their children’s deaths will finally come to light. Until then, they continue to mourn in uncertainty, waiting for the closure they so desperately need.