The containers, which were sold by an unknown man from Palapye, are suspected to have been contaminated. According to Dibete Police Station commander, Superintendent Meshack Ranku, the incident began when a resident purchased two 210-litre containers a week ago following an advertisement on Facebook seen last year. "On arrival in Dibete to deliver the order the seller, who had loaded a matshelonyana truck with 15 empty containers, got lucky when he found 13 more customers for his containers. On Wednesday after drinking water from the new container, an 80-year-old woman started vomiting. She was rushed to the Dibete clinic where she was treated and released.
The following morning her situation got worse and she was referred to Mahalapye hospital where she is currently hospitalised receiving medical treatment," he said of the first victim. Ranku further revealed that on Saturday shortly after, members of another family—ranging from four to 97—fell ill after drinking from their container. He said the quartet was rushed to a local clinic and later referred to Mahalapye hospital where they are currently hospitalised and receiving medical assistance. Furthermore, Ranku said on Sunday three more individuals from a different family that had also purchased the containers started experiencing similar symptoms and were also rushed to the hospital where they are currently receiving treatment.
