Residents of Phomolong Informal Settlement in Mamelodi East literally got a rude awakening on Thursday when they woke up to find packets of deadly insecticide Aldicarb (Galephirimi) strewn inside their yards as well as in the streets.
The visibly alarmed residents told Tshwane Talks that the packets were strategically placed in their houses and in the streets so that they would be consumed by unsuspecting residents in one way or another.
They said children would obviously consume the stuff innocently while adults who don’t know the deadly nature of the insecticide may touch it and not wash their hands before eating.
The residents opine that this is a clear attempt to kill them and that a case of attempted murder must be opened against the perpetrators of this dastardly act.
Police Spokesperson van Dyk said the Mamelodi East Police Station knows nothing about the incident, Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya refused to comment even though she was requested to do so several times by Tshwane Talks, while Ward Councillor Joseph Makola failed to convene a meeting as requested by the residents to discuss the issue of Aldicarb (Galephirmi).
Aldicarb, known in the townships of Tshwane as “Galephirimi” is an insecticide that is very harmful to human beings and there has been many cases whereby some people have used it to poison their enemies, while in other cases it has been consumed by suicidal residents to commit suicide.
“Galephirimi” literally means “the sun will never set;” the implication being that those who have swallowed it at any given time will be dead before sunset of the same day.
Local resident Johanna Senyane, who runs a pre-school called Mmasenyane Children’s World Early Child Development Centre in Phomolong, expressed anger regarding the Aldicarb matter.
She showed Tshwane Talks nine or ten packets of Aldicarb which she found inside her yard as well as in the street right next to her pres-school.
“It seems like pre-schools and children’s centres are the target here because other packets of Aldicarb were also found at the Tsalanang After-Care NPO where several children gather after school on a daily basis” she said.
“We are still waiting for Councillor Makola to address us on this issue since he is the first citizen in the Ward and is supposed to act because we have reported this matter to him,” said Senyane.
Another resident known only as Leopeng told Tshwane Talks that he found two packets of Aldicarb in his yard and revealed that several packets of Aldicarb were also found at the local St. Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC)
Yet another resident, Maria Mahlangu, told Tshwane Talks that if the City of Tshwane and the government can’t ensure the safety of the residents of Phomolong, then they will take the law into their own hands and sort out the culprits responsible for this heinous act of attempted murder.
“We are asking for help from the City of Tshwane, from the Councillor and from the government to protect us and especially our children, because we fear that there is someone out there who wants to feed this poison called Galephirimi to our children,” lamented Mahlangu.
Precious Mongadi, who works at the Tsalanang After-Care NPO said they were warned some time ago to be careful of an incident like this as it has apparently happened in places like Ga- Rankuwa.