NGOVHELA – A 34-year-old father has been arrested for allegedly poisoning his son and six other children.

Police spokesperson Captain Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said the father went to Konanani Junior Primary in Ngovhela on Tuesday morning where he asked a teacher to allow him to offer something to drink to his 8-year-old son. "The man gave the child a 250ml juice and yoghurt to drink. The son shared the stuff with six friends of the same age.

"Immediately after they drank the drinks, five of the seven children started vomiting while sprawling and screaming in pain. They were then taken to Tshilidzini hospital where it was confirmed that they consumed poison," said Mushavhanamadi.

The other two kids were also admitted to hospital after they experienced the same problem on Tuesday night while at home. The matter was reported to the police who arrested the father on Wednesday morning.

It later emerged that the father was supposed to appear before the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for a maintenance case, about the same child. The man who is known to Mirror was to appear in court at the time of going to press.