Naledi food poisoning: Organophosphate identified as cause of death

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that an organophosphate was responsible for the deaths of six children from Naledi, Soweto. The children were rushed to the hospital in critical condition after reportedly consuming snacks bought from local spaza shops.

Motsoaledi confirmed this during a joint media briefing held on Monday, 28 October, to provide an update on the investigation into the death of the six minors.

ORGANOPHOSPHATE BEHIND NALEDI CHILDREN’S DEATH

As previously reported by The South African, following the incident, various bodies, including the National Consumer Commission (NCC) sent out officials to investigate the matter.

Last Monday, Motsoaledi confirmed that a chemical agent is behind the incident, however, it was not yet identified.

During the briefing, Motsoaledi identified the organophosphate as terbufos which is a pale-yellow liquid used as an insecticide.

Organophosphate is a group of substances which are used in agriculture or as pesticides.

“In the past weeks several chemicals were bandied around as the possible causes of death. Some were even found in some retailers. Apart from organophosphate, another group of chemicals used as pesticides are called Carbamates. There is a slight difference between carbamates and organophosphates. One major difference is that organophosphate is much more lethal and can cause irreversible damage,” he said.

Motsoaledi confirmed that all the six children died of terbufos ingestion.

PERSONS OF INTEREST FINED AND RELEASED ON WARNING

Meanwhile, Gauteng police commissioner General Tommy Mthombeni has confirmed that the four people who were arrested for allegedly selling illegal chemicals in Naledi have been released.

Mthombeni said the four were fined R2000 and released on warning as they were not the ones who sold the chemicals.

Some spaza shop owners in Naledi reportedly confessed that the individuals are selling them illegal chemicals. Aldicarb falls in the class of carbamates, which is also an organophosphate.

Carbamates was ruled out as the cause of death, but it remains illegal to sell to the public because it is also a dangerous substance.