Two brothers, aged four and six, died after possibly eating poisoned food in Pretoria on Thursday night.
They had shared a meal of pap and soup at home.
The four-year-old had died by the time they reached the hospital, and his six-year-old brother, who was found unresponsive and foaming at the mouth, passed away shortly after.
Their three-year-old cousin, who didn’t eat the same food, was taken to the hospital but was released after doctors found nothing wrong.
On the same night, in Vosloorus, three other children, aged three, five, and six, were rushed to a clinic with signs of food poisoning.
The two younger children were dead by the time they got to the hospital, while the six-year-old is still in a critical condition.
They had all shared potato chips with their 28-year-old uncle, who was also hospitalised but later released.
This is part of a growing problem in Gauteng, where more and more children are getting sick from food poisoning, especially in townships, informal settlements, and hostels.
The Gauteng Department of Health is warning parents to be extra careful about what their children eat.
In another incident late last week, seven children were admitted to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital last Thursday for suspected food poisoning.
Six of the children have since died, while one remains in a critical condition.
Since February 2024, there have been 207 cases of food poisoning affecting children in Gauteng, leading to 10 deaths. The cases have been reported as follows:
Tshwane: 31 cases, 3 deaths.
Johannesburg: 40 cases.
Ekurhuleni: 119 cases, 4 deaths.
West Rand: 14 cases.
Sedibeng: 3 cases, 3 deaths.
Gauteng’s Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, said she was seriously concerned about the rising number of child deaths from food poisoning.
The department is working with schools and communities to teach people about food safety, hand washing, and clean water.
