A Pretoria orphanage worker was arrested for allegedly poisoning 20 young children who were rushed to a hospital after complaining of stomach aches.
Molareto Centre of Hope is an orphanage which caters mostly for Aids orphans in Mamelodi Sundowns township.
Commenting on the incident, the orphanage principal, Johanna Mashapa said the children started complaining after taking their lunch.
“We were so worried, children were vomiting and crying. They had runny stomachs and were very sick and in pain,” he said addressing media.
Speaking on the issue the police said a woman suspected of poisoning the children has been arrested and charged with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and is expected to stand in court on Monday.
Two of the children were reported to have been in critical condition with one said to have been airlifted to Johannesburg Hospital.
“We have sent some inspectors into the orphanage to do investigate on the issue,” said a government health expert.
The Malerato Orphanage Centre houses more than forty abandoned children and orphans whose parents died of Aids.
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