RESIDENTS from Protea South in Soweto gathered for a candlelight service in memory of Kwanda Mazazane on Sunday night, 8 October.
The 14-year-old died on Monday, 2 October after allegedly eating snacks from a spaza shop in his kasi.
Itumeleng Takalo, Kwanda's aunt, told Daily Sun that as a family they were battling to cope with the loss of their loved one.
"Kwanda died at a very young age. We expected great things from him. What happened, happened. But we're sad that he died in this way," Itumeleng said.
She said that the family is still waiting for the results of the post-mortem to confirm the cause of death so that they could get some closure and know what killed their son.
Daily Sun published Kwanda's story on Friday, 6 October, headlined: 'Deadly' snacks Kwanda's last meal
The president of Operation Dudula, Zandile Dabula, offered her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
She said it's sad that the community keeps losing their kids in the hands of foreign nationals.
"We have warned community members to stop buying from these shops, because we've seen how they operate.
"Operation Dudula blames the Department of Health for all these deaths because we don't see their inspectors visiting these shops," Dubula said.
She stressed that South Africans have lost control of the economy in the townships, adding that retail shops in the townships are full of counterfeit and expired goods.
"Finally, we call on communities to resist and close these shops. To the landlords, we know you need the money, but this is costing us lives. No looting and no damaging of Infrastructure," she said.
Kwanda will be laid to rest in KZN on Saturday, 14 October.
