Two children have died and five others remain in hospital following a suspected food poisoning incident.
The incident is said to have occurred at Msintsi Location near Ntabozuko, outside KuGompo, formerly known as East London.
Seven children, aged between four and seven, were admitted to Cecilia Makiwane Hospital on Saturday after suddenly falling ill.
Health officials say six of the children are from Msintsi, while one child is from NU3 in Mdantsane.
The children reportedly showed symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness. Despite emergency medical efforts, two children were declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
Five children are still receiving medical care. One child has been placed on a ventilator and transferred to Frere Hospital for specialised treatment, while the remaining four are reported to be in stable condition and continue to be monitored.
Preliminary information provided by families suggests that six of the children had been playing together and had eaten snacks before becoming ill.
The circumstances surrounding the illness of the child from Mdantsane are still being investigated.
The cause of the suspected food poisoning has not yet been confirmed.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health says emergency and outbreak response protocols were immediately activated, and environmental health practitioners have been deployed to identify the source of the contamination.