By Doreen Mokgolo
Four-year-old Enhle Mamfengu is fighting for her life in hospital after eating biscuits from a local spaza shop on Friday.
Enhle, from Langaville in Ekurhuleni, is in Pholosong Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with food poisoning.
Her mother Andiswa Mamfengu told Scrolla.Africa that her daughter had been fine before eating the biscuits.
“She started complaining about stomach cramps and had a fever. She was shaking, having trouble breathing, and getting weaker,” she said.
When she went to the tuckshop to check, Mamfengu saw the expiry date had been scratched off.
“The shopkeeper told me that there’s no way the biscuits were to blame because other children had eaten them without problems,” she added.
Langaville residents are now demanding that the City of Ekurhuleni inspect local tuckshops and close those that do not comply with health regulations.
Community leader Simphiwe Maphanga is concerned about the increase in food poisoning incidents in the area.
“It’s clear that the City of Ekurhuleni has stopped inspecting tuckshops to ensure they follow the rules. Inspectors would have found biscuits with missing expiry dates if they were doing their job,” he said.
“We won’t wait for another child’s life to be in danger. We demand that the city check these shops for compliance; if they fail, they must leave.”
Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the city regularly inspects tuckshops and other food outlets.
“Since there are concerns in Langaville, we will prioritise inspections in the area. We are also waiting for law enforcement investigations to determine what caused the child’s food poisoning,” he said.
The poisoning of Enhle is the latest in a string of similar incidents nationwide. It follows the deaths of six children from Naledi in Soweto who died after eating a snack from a spaza shop.
Pictured above: Enhle Mamfengu.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
