Food poisoning at relief centre for foreign nationals

The Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services has since requested that donations of food made to provide relief to displaced foreign nationals be uncooked, nonperishable foods, Kempton Express reported.

This follows reports of possible food poising at the Poppiespruit Park and Elsburg relief centres at the weekend.

“The City of Ekurhuleni is greatly appreciative of and welcomes the assistance of churches, nonprofit organisations and community members. However, we would like to make the request that donations of food should not be cooked,” Ekurhuleni acting spokesperson Lebogang Ramashala said.

Ramashala added the city called for donations of baby formula, disposable nappies and other essentials. Meanwhile, the city’s environmental health practitioners have beefed up operations to decrease the risk of poisoning and will be conducting tests several times a day.

The relief centres were set up following widespread attacks on foreign nationals in Gauteng over the past week.

In February, 18 pupils were admitted to hospital for food poisoning in Peddie, in the Eastern Cape.

“The school children experienced conditions such as vomiting, stomach cramps and headaches after consuming chocolates sold by a hawker,” spokesperson for the province’s health department, Sizwe Kupelo, said.

The pupils, from Pumla High School, were later treated at Nompumelelo Hospital.

– Caxton News Service