THREE people have died in Limpopo after attending a funeral.
According to police, three people died, including a seven-year-old girl, in what is suspected to be a case of food poisoning in Ga-Maja.
It's believed that mourners who attended a funeral between Saturday, 18 April and Monday, 20 April started falling violently ill, with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.
Police in Limpopo have opened inquest dockets following the shocking incident in the Lebowakgomo policing area.
A total of 42 residents were rushed to Lebowakgomo Hospital for treatment, while 38 had to be admitted as their conditions worsened.
Early reports suggest that the young girl started showing symptoms on Sunday afternoon, 19 April, after eating food brought from the funeral.
Limpopo Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba has received reports from clinical services, forensic pathology services, the South African Police Service and local councillors, who are all investigating.
She said it will take 14 days to confirm if chemicals were to blame.
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Ramathuba visited survivors at Lebowakgomo Hospital on Wednesday, 22 April and confirmed that laboratory tests are underway.
"A total of 123 were seen in our different health facilities, including Botlokwa, Dilokong, Polokwane and Mankweng. Of those, 90 were seen and discharged.
"Thirty-two were admitted and out of those, 25 are still in our hospitals, the majority of them stable. Only two are critical at Mankweng Hospital, with one in ICU on a ventilator. In the next 14 days, we should be able to have the results to see if there was any chemical," the premier said.
Health authorities are testing for toxic substances and pathogens.
"We're trying to investigate and rule out all toxin-producing pathogens, and that work is being done. For now, let us allow the process to take place. According to clinicians, we haven't seen signs and symptoms of organophosphate poisoning," added Ramathuba.
Police have opened inquest dockets and investigations are underway as they work to piece together exactly what happened. More cases from other areas are also being linked to the tragedy.
Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe sent condolences to grieving families.
"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. We urge the community to remain calm as investigations, including postmortems, continue to determine the exact cause of death," she said.
