Eastern Cape tragedy: Two children dead, one critical after suspected food poisoning

Devastating incident in Msintsi leaves families grieving

A quiet township near Fort Jackson in the Eastern Cape has been shaken by tragedy after two young children died and another remains in critical condition following suspected food poisoning. The children, aged between two and six years, were rushed to hospital on Saturday afternoon after showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea, dizziness, and extreme weakness.

Four other children who fell ill have been treated and discharged, but the community remains in shock over the loss of the two youngest.

What the children ate

Health authorities say the children had consumed a combination of instant porridge, rice, chips, and sweets before falling ill. The food was reportedly sourced from local homes and spaza shops in the area.

“The Eastern Cape Department of Health confirms that four children have been discharged, one remains in critical care, and two sadly passed away,” a department spokesperson said on Sunday.

The child still in critical care is being treated at Frere Hospital, while the discharged children received care at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital.

Rapid response from health teams

Following the incident, outbreak response teams from Buffalo City Metro Health District and Environmental Health were deployed immediately. They worked alongside clinical staff and hospital management to assess the situation and provide support to affected families.

Officials conducted site visits in Msintsi, meeting with families and the local ward committee to gather information. Food samples were collected, and clinical tests are ongoing to identify the source of the suspected poisoning.

As a precaution, a local spaza shop has been temporarily closed pending a formal inspection by Environmental Health Practitioners.

The shadow of organophosphates

The incident comes amid renewed concerns over unsafe food handling and toxic substances in informal food outlets. Last year, hundreds of food-borne illnesses were reported across South Africa, leading authorities to crack down on unregistered or non-compliant spaza shops.

Of particular concern is a chemical called Terbufos, locally known in townships as “halephirimi” literally, “you will never see the sunset”. Highly toxic and fast-acting, Terbufos has been linked to previous food poisoning cases and remains banned in most SADC countries but not in South Africa.

Multi-sectoral investigation underway

The Eastern Cape Department of Health is working closely with the SAPS and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality to investigate the tragedy. Authorities are providing clinical care, environmental health oversight, and psychosocial support to affected families. Post-mortem examinations will be conducted on the deceased children to determine the exact cause of death.

“The Department extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” the statement said. “Every effort is being made to determine the source of this incident and safeguard the health of the community.”

Community reaction and next steps

Residents have expressed outrage and fear on social media, highlighting ongoing concerns about food safety in spaza shops and informal settlements. Local leaders and health authorities have called for calm while investigations continue.

Meanwhile, follow-up visits and monitoring will be carried out in Msintsi to ensure that children and families remain safe and supported.

{Source: The Citizen}

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