Little Siyabonga Mnisi’s mother recalls his last moments before his death due to suspected food contamination

JOHANNESBURG – The family of five-year-old Siyabonga Mnisi said he died within 20 minutes after suffering symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

Siyabonga died on Wednesday after allegedly consuming chips purchased from a spaza shop around the corner from his Diepkloof home in Soweto.

Over the past month, more than 20 children across the country have died from food contamination as authorities continue to crack down on spa shops that fail to comply with regulations.

READ: Siyabonga Mnisi’s family mourns his death instead of celebrating his Grade R graduation

The mother of five-year-old Siyabonga Mnisi, who died of suspected food contamination, said doctors examined him for just a few minutes after arriving at hospital.

I’m talking to EWN from their home in Soweto, an emotional Thandeka Ndalimane said her son was there one minute and the next he was gone because his diaphragm had probably started to contract, suffocating him.

“His last breath was when we got to the hospital because he was gasping for air on the way there. By the time we got there, he was almost gone.”

She said it took doctors just two to three minutes to declare her son dead.

The spaza shop has since been closed and the owner was arrested by police on Wednesday.

Siyabonga will be buried on Sunday.