Six children who tragically died earlier this month in a South African township had consumed a chemical compound typically found in pesticides, as confirmed by the country’s health minister on Monday.
Reports indicate that the children fell ill after eating snacks purchased from a local spaza shop in Soweto, near Johannesburg.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that toxicology tests identified the cause of death as organophosphate, a substance commonly used in agriculture and pesticides.
Health officials are currently awaiting results from swabs taken from informal shops in Soweto to trace the source of the organophosphate.
Motsoaledi suggested that these shops may be using the substance as a rodenticide, noting that it is also being sold to residents for pest control. He emphasized that pesticide products containing organophosphate are not intended for household use and should not pose a threat to human life.
