One of the families of the two kids who died after allegedly consuming biscuits bought from a local spaza shop in Naledi, Soweto, says this was a second tragedy to have struck the family. A few years ago, the late Leon Jele's sister was kidnapped, raped and killed. The sister was also six years old at the time of her death.
Leon (6) and Neo Khang (4) and their two other friends allegedly ate biscuits bought from a local spaza shop owned by a foreign national on 1 October. The kids fell sick soon afterwards and they were rushed to hospital where Leon and Neo died while the other two are still fighting for their lives in ICU. Last week, the Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said as the department they were devastated over the deaths of the grade 1 learners from Kgauhelo and Karabo Primary Schools. "This incident serves as a grave reminder to parents and guardians to exercise utmost caution when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our learners. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and ensure that or children are not exposed to harmful substances," Chiloane said.
During the two children's burial yesterday,Leon's grandfather, Tshepo Joseph Williams, said that Leon's death reminded him of an incident that occurred few years ago where his sister, who was also six-year-old at the time was kidnapped, raped and dumped on the streets. "It feels like yesterday. The pain that we went through as a family years ago just came back to repeat itself. I thought I had healed and made peace with the passing of his sister, and I never thought that the same pain was going to come back again," he said, adding that they will not rest until they know what exactly killed their children. "We are still in limbo about the reasons that led to their death because we have a feeling that someone somehow poisoned them. We want answers not these silly explanations the cops are giving us," he said.
Williams said losing Leon really hurt their family and they are trying very hard to overcome the pain. "Yesterday we laid them to rest but we are not satisfied with the answers the police are giving us. We have only been told of a trace of carbamate in the content of the children's stomach. I don't know the meaning of that scientific word; they said it seems as if they ate something poisonous. If that is the case, why is no one arrested? Children lost their lives and someone must be held responsible for their death," he said.
Meanwhile, the Khang family said that all they want is a clear report that indicates what killed their child. Florence Khang said they are not happy to be burying their child with no clear answer on what killed him. "I will try will to be strong but it's hard, even Leon's mother is trying to be strong; she is trying to be strong hence I have asked the social workers to come and give her strength. The paper from the mortuary speaks of carbamate, we don't know what that is. I will see the investigating officer today so that he can explain what he has gathered. For now, I cannot even try to disturb the investigation because it might appear that we are hiding something," Neo and Leo were laid to rest at Olifansvlei cemetery, south of Johannesburg yesterday.
