A devastated family is calling for an independent probe after their seven-year-old daughter, Azra Rahim, died from suspected food poisoning linked to a deadly insecticide.
Azra, a Grade 3 pupil from Brakpan, suffered multiple organ failure hours after allegedly consuming a packet of Go-Slo maize-based chips believed to have been contaminated with Terbufos, a toxic insecticide used to eliminate pests.
According to her family, Azra had no spending money that day and may have swapped her snack with a friend at school. Later that evening, she began feeling unwell, complaining of dizziness and vision loss before losing consciousness. Despite doctors' efforts to resuscitate her at Dalview Life Hospital, she was pronounced dead on January 30.
Her parents, Carmyn and Keagan Pillay, say they are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their daughter. They are demanding answers about how the contaminated chips reached the tuckshop, insisting on full transparency in the investigation.
Azra, described as a bright and loving child, would have celebrated her eighth birthday on February 13. Her funeral was held on February 2 in Phoenix.
The grieving family has gone public with their tragedy to raise awareness about food safety and the dangers of purchasing snacks from unregulated vendors.
Brakpan police have launched an investigation into the incident.