Soweto boy in ICU after eating tuck shop snacks — Family suspects poisoning

Soweto boy in ICU after eating tuck shop snacks — Family suspects poisoning! Thursday marks four harrowing days since an eight-year-old boy from Soweto was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) after consuming snacks purchased from a local tuck shop — an incident that has left his family shaken and seeking answers.

The young boy, whose name has not yet been released publicly for privacy reasons, was enjoying the last Friday of his school holidays with his siblings at their home in Mapetla, a township in Soweto. Like many other children in the neighborhood, the group of kids made their way to a nearby spaza shop, a small informal convenience store, to purchase snacks — a seemingly routine outing that soon turned tragic.

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She is keeping Uzalo alive

Sudden Illness Raises Alarm

According to his mother, Tshidi Molodela, her son began showing severe symptoms shortly after eating a packet of chips. He suddenly became nauseous, began vomiting, and alarmingly lost mobility. Alarmed by his rapid deterioration, the family rushed him to the Chiawelo clinic.

“The last Friday of the holidays turned into a complete nightmare,” Tshidi said, still visibly emotional. “He was fine earlier in the day, laughing and playing like all the other kids. Then everything changed.”

Soweto boy in ICU

Medical staff at Chiawelo took one look at the boy’s symptoms and immediately suspected something more serious than a routine illness. According to Tshidi, his skin had started to change color, turning a concerning shade of purple and green around the abdomen.

“He could no longer speak,” she recalled. “The doctor said right away, ‘You know what? We suspect poison. We’re going to send him to Bara Hospital.’”

Critical Condition at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

The child was then transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in the southern hemisphere. He has remained in critical condition in the ICU since Friday.

Tshidi said doctors told her that her son’s heart had stopped beating multiple times, requiring urgent resuscitation efforts to keep him alive.

The family has been keeping vigil at the hospital, hoping for signs of improvement, but the journey has been emotionally and physically draining. “We’re scared. Every time the phone rings, I fear the worst,” Tshidi shared. “No parent should ever have to go through this.”

Legal Steps Taken

In response to the incident, the Molodela family has opened a case at the Moroko Police Station. Authorities have reportedly launched an investigation into the spaza shop owner, and the food items purchased by the children are being analyzed to determine whether they were contaminated or poisoned.

Local law enforcement officials have confirmed that they are treating the matter with urgency, given the possibility that more children could be at risk if harmful products are being sold to the community.

“We’re working closely with health inspectors and forensic teams to determine exactly what the child ingested and whether foul play was involved,” said a police spokesperson.

Community Shocked and Concerned

The incident has sent shockwaves through the Mapetla community, where many residents rely on local tuck shops for quick, affordable food and snacks. Several parents have since warned their children not to buy anything from spaza shops until more information is made available.

“This could’ve been any of our kids,” said a concerned neighbor. “We need answers and accountability. Someone has to be held responsible.”

Ongoing Investigation and Call for Awareness

As doctors continue to monitor the boy’s condition closely, the family is urging the public to be cautious about what their children eat — especially when it comes to products sold at informal retailers.

Tshidi is hopeful but cautious: “We are praying he pulls through. He’s a fighter. But this should never have happened in the first place.”

The case remains under investigation, and the results of toxicology tests are expected in the coming days.

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