Family meal kills five in Durban
2012-09-25 11:29
Durban - Five people are dead in Durban after eating what are believed to be poisonous mushrooms, The Sowetan reported on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper the five, including a 17-month old baby, died after eating mushrooms brought home by Bheki Mkhize, 29, on Tuesday.
Mkhize reportedly gave the mushrooms to his girlfriend, known only as "Xoli", to cook. She was the first person to become ill, and she died at RK Khan Hospital on Wednesday.
Mkhize's 17-month old baby, Emenhle, died at the KwaDabeka Community Clinic on Thursday.
Mkhize's sister Nozipho, 24, died on Friday at the Mariannhill Hospital.
Another of Mkhize's sisters, Nombulelo, 22, was taken to Mariannhill Hospital, but was discharged after receiving treatment.
However, she was later rushed back to hospital and died on Saturday at RK Khan hospital, where Bheki Mkhize died on Sunday.
His aunt Thembekile Cele said she did not know where he got the mushrooms.
She said the family did not know how to reach Xoli's next-of-kin and knew only that she came from Lamontville.
Cele also reportedly did not know how she would pay for the funerals of her four family members as she was unemployed.
She said would contact the municipality for help.
KwaZulu-Natal department of health spokesperson Chris Maxon said the cause of the deaths would only be known after post-mortems were completed.
- SAPA
