Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has revealed that organophosphate, a chemical that is found in pesticides, insecticides and herbicides, among other agricultural products was the cause of death for the six children from Naledi, Soweto. Motsoaledi confirmed this during a media briefing in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, this morning.

CAUSE OF DEATH

Motsoaledi clarified that the samples they took from one of the deceased kids' pockets did not contain the said chemical. He explained that it remains a mystery where the chemical came from and it's still being investigated. "The results show that the cause of death is unequivocally organophosphate. When we mentioned to you that we were chasing a chemical, we believed that it was organophosphate. We took that from the symptoms."

TERBUFOS INGESTION

Mostoaledi further explained the type of chemical and identified it as Terbufos. He said one needs to have a certificate to handle such chemicals and are not meant to be in domestic spaces. "All six children died of Terbufos ingestion. In the past few weeks, several chemicals were bandied around as possible causes of death. Some were even found in some retailers. Our theory is that spaza shops use it as a pesticide to kill rats. I want to believe that there are rats in several spaza shops, so it came to spaza shops in that manner." He added, "Until we are proven otherwise and if the spaza shop owners are found to have been guilty of this, they will be charged." Zinhle Maama (7), Monica Sathekge (6), Njabulo Msimango (7), Karabo Rampou (8) and Isago Mabote (7) passed away two weeks ago after they allegedly consumed snacks. The sixth child, Katleho Olifant (7) passed away a week later in hospital.