Gauteng government mourns passing of Diepkloof toddler
Officials from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed the tragic passing of a Grade R learner, 5-year-old Siyabonga Mnisi, from Dumezweni Primary School.
Siyabonga and three other learners—two girls in Grade R and Grade 1, and a boy in Grade 4—began showing severe symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea after allegedly consuming snacks purchased from a foreign-owned spaza shop.
The children, who lived and played in the same yard, were rushed to a local medical facility. Sadly, Siyabonga was declared deceased, while the other three learners have been transferred to another hospital for further care.
The police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
This devastating news comes days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the immediate closure of illegal spaza shops and mandated their registration within 21 days, starting from November 15, as part of efforts to regulate safety standards in the sector.
In response, the Department of Education has deployed its Education Support Team to Dumezweni Primary School to provide psychosocial services to affected learners and staff.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased learner and wish the hospitalised learners a speedy recovery,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.
Angry residents have gathered in the community, demanding accountability from the spaza shop owner.
In a video interview on scene yesterday, Ward Councillor Brenda Dammie has expressed concern over the prevalence of food safety issues in the area.
