A white South African farmer has been charged with attempted murder
for allegedly gassing 47 people, including 19 children, after his farm workers refused to show up for work.
Police spokesman Mr Louis Jacobs that 52-year-old Mr John McGregorallegedly threw toxic phostoxin tablets into the houses of farmworkers and their families early on Tuesday morning after theyrefused to come to work on Monday.
Phostoxin, used to treat grain in silos, releases fumes once thetablets make contact with oxygen. It is highly toxic to humans andcan be fatal, Mr Jacobs said.
The incident took place near Potchefstroom, about 100 km (60 miles)southwest of Johannesburg.
Mr Jacobs said the 47 people, ranging in age from three months to 65years, had been treated and discharged from hospital after several ofthem vomited and showed symptoms of drowsiness and muscular pains.
They are currently being housed in a community centre until expertsremove the last traces of the gas from their homes.
Three policemen who rushed to the scene and Mr McGregor himself werealso hospitalised after they were exposed to the toxins.
The accused was charged in court on with one count of attemptedmurder though all 47 names have been added to the count, and he wasreleased on bail (635), Jacobs said, adding his next courtappearance is scheduled for March 26th.