On Friday a memorial service held in Naledi for the five children who tragically lost their lives due to suspected food poisoning was a somber gathering of grief and remembrance.
Among those remembered was Karabo Rampou, aged nine, whose soul-stirring letter resonated with all attendees: “You are beautiful and limitless. Now stretch your wings and fly. You are loved by so many, and it will never be goodbye. Let your soul find peace.”
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This heartfelt message encapsulated the sorrow permeating the atmosphere as shattered school friends openly cried in remembrance of their young companions.
Naledi Community in Mourning
The service witnessed an outpouring of emotions as friends and families of the victims, aged between six and ten, struggled to come to terms with their devastating loss. Attendees mourned as they shared their memories of the children, who became victims under distressing circumstances after allegedly consuming snacks from a foreign-owned spaza shop.
The profound grief was palpable, and it was punctuated by loud cries echoing throughout the packed hall. A sixth child remains in intensive care, further deepening the community’s heartache.
A Call for Justice
Kgapotso Khantsi, the aunt of victim Monica Sethakge, led the gathering in a traditional hymn that was her niece’s favourite, stirring further emotion among mourners. “We were so proud of her when she graduated last December.
She wanted to become a teacher,” Khantsi said, emphasizing the dreams and aspirations that have now been tragically cut short. Echoing this sentiment, Busi Mnguni, a relative of another victim, noted, “There is a dark cloud hanging over us. We can’t lose children in the same way, two years in a row. This feels like a curse, and as a community, we must fight to protect our children.”
The families of the deceased children have since demanded justice, asserting that such a tragedy must never happen again. They called for increased accountability and regulatory compliance among local shops, expressing their frustration over the lack of adequate inspections prior to the incident.
While it was noted that there were no high-ranking officials from the police or City of Joburg present at the memorial, Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane remarked that his department was yet to receive preliminary reports.
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This disaster has prompted a wave of inspections in the area, revealing a blatant disregard for health regulations in spaza shops. MMC of Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku, alongside the DA, highlighted the failures of the system to safeguard the youth, while SA Democratic Teachers Union regional deputy secretary John Sithi lamented, “The unauthorized spaza shops that sell poisonous food to our children represent a complete failure of our system.”
This heart-wrenching event emphasizes our collective responsibility to ensure children’s safety and demand immediate action from those responsible. In memory of these precious lives, the community stands united to advocate for justice, firmly believing that no child should ever suffer this fate again.
