Prime Minister Dr. “We offer our condolences to the family who lost such a thriving life. It is heartbreaking. We are saddened by the circumstances surrounding his death and mourned by the family,” Phophi Ramathuba said.

The child passed away at the William Eadie Health Clinic on Wednesday.

It is alleged that he ate chips or puffs that one of the shopkeepers offered him and three other children.

The 13-year-old boy suffered complications and was taken to William Eadie Health Center in Tshidimbini where he died.

Three other boys who ate the same offering snacks were taken to Donald Fraser Hospital where they are stable.

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Prime Minister’s spokesperson Thilivhali Muavha said the Prime Minister has established an Inter-Ministerial Task Team comprising the Departments of Health, Education, LEDET, Social Development and the South African Police Service.

“The task team will advise the State Government on strategies to deal with this issue, while the Executive Council will meet on Sunday to implement the proposed strategy.

“Prime Minister Dr. Ramathuba concluded by imploring parents and communities to stay away from eating chips, puffs and some of the snacks purchased from illegal spaza shops.

“Parents should be concerned about what their children eat, this way we can jointly tackle this problem,” Dr Ramathuba said.

The State Government’s concern is that repeated incidents of this nature involving 80 students have been reported in Mopani and Vhembe.

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