An 8-year-old boy, Omphile Molobela, from Mapetla, Soweto, is in critical condition after eating snacks he allegedly bought from a spaza shop on Friday, 4 April.
His family has been told the poison has spread throughout his body, and his brain is no longer functioning.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Omphile’s aunt, Virginia Morapedi, shared the distressing details.
“He bought snacks and a yoghurt from a nearby spaza shop. After eating, he started vomiting and feeling unwell. He was with his friends when they went to the shop. As he was vomiting, he couldn’t walk anymore,” she said.
Omphile was rushed to Chiawelo Clinic, where it was discovered that he had ingested rat poison.
“He was transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanth Hospital. When the doctors examined him, they admitted him and the next day, he wasn’t responding to treatment,” Morapedi said.
“The doctor later told the mother that the poison had affected his brain and spread throughout his body. His organs started to fail, and his lungs were no longer functioning.”
Now, Omphile is on life support. His mother, Tshidi Molobela, confirmed the diagnosis.
“The doctor said it was organophosphate, the same poison that killed the Naledi children,” she told Daily Sun.
Tshidi recalled how Friday started off like any other. “The schools had closed, and my son found money with three other kids.
He asked for it, and they went to buy yoghurt. After bathing, they went back to the shop to buy snacks,” she said.
While Tshidi was out at the mall to withdraw Sassa money, her 14-year-old daughter texted her with alarming news.
“She told me Omphile was vomiting and couldn’t walk,” Tshidi recalled.
“I rushed back home, and when I saw him, it was bad. We took him to the clinic, and then he was transferred to the hospital.”
Tshidi said that by Saturday, Omphile’s condition had worsened.
“He seemed confused, like he had lost his mind, and then he started gasping for air. White foam was coming out of his mouth,” she said.
Omphile was transferred to ICU and placed on life support, as he’s unable to breathe on his own.
“I still believe my son will come back alive,” Tshidi added. In response to the incident, the community has taken action and decided to close the spaza shop.
