POISON-LACED YOGHURT: BUSINESSWOMAN WANTED BY COPS

MANZINI – A businesswoman is wanted by the police to assist them with information on the death of a 19-month-old toddler who died after eating a yoghurt laced with poison.

The businesswoman, 32, who operated a hairdressing salon in Mankayane, has become a person of interest following the demise of the minor.
Philile Msibi, according to the Deputy Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni, is wanted to assist them with information on the yoghurt that was consumed by the toddler and two adults. Mnguni said: “We appeal to the public to assist us in locating the suspect as she can share information that may solve the investigation.” According to sources, a relative was said to have bought the yoghurt and requested someone to take it home, where it was consumed by the trio. It is alleged that traces of a poisonous substance were found in the yoghurt during investigations.

Demise

The insiders claimed that following the demise of the toddler and the pair being treated and discharged in hospital, the businessman closed her business and left the area. They claimed that the woman also took her children to their fathers before disappearing. The sources claimed that the businesswoman was suspected to have fled to South Africa. Meanwhile, Msibi is being sought by police following an investigation which ensued a fortnight ago.

At the time when the investigation was initiated, Mnguni said they did not have a suspect; but what they knew was that the people who ate the yoghurt were suspected to have been poisoned. She said the yoghurts were supposed to be delivered at home. She said the police were still investigating the matter, to identify the suspect and further understand, who the yoghurts were meant for.

Mnguni said the businesswoman could assist in solving a case of murder and two cases of attempted murder. This follows that apart from the demise of the 19-month toddler, two other relatives aged 28 and 50 years, who also ate the yoghurt, survived, after they were quickly rushed to Mankayane Government Hospital. Meanwhile, the demise of minors through consuming food laced with poison happened at KaPhunga recently, where two children died after eating sour milk (emasi) laced with a poisonous substance.

Another similar incident happened at Nsingweni in January, where three children, aged two, five and nine, were allegedly forced to ingest a poisonous substance by their mother. In the Nsingweni incident, the children, according to a relative, were found in their parents’ bedroom. The mother is said to have not shared or given a valid explanation to the family for her actions. Instead, she profusely apologised for the incident, claiming she had also ingested the substance.

“From hearsay, we gathered that she had informed other people she would engage in such an act as they purportedly had an argument with my brother,” the relative said.

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