About 90 Pulamadibogo Primary School learners in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, were taken to hospital yesterday morning after eating cookies suspected to have been laced with dagga.

Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona says teachers noticed strange behaviour from the learners in class and immediately contacted emergency services for support.

Mabona explains Grade 0 to Grade 7 learners experienced nausea, stomach cramps, with some vomiting from consuming the ‘space cookies’.

“All 90 affected learners were attended to by emergency services on the school premises,” he adds.

“However, they were all subsequently rushed to different medical facilities where their conditions were monitored. Police visited the school, as this incident has caused distress among parents who also came to the school as they were concerned about the safety of their children.”

It is suspected the children bought the cookies – that may have been laced with dagga – from a street vendor.

According to Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, the seller has been identified and a thorough police investigation will be conducted.

“Indeed, this is concerning for us and we call for patience from parents while investigations are underway and learners are recovering. We implore learners to be vigilant of what they purchase and consume and to be cautious of who they purchase food from. We wish all affected learners a speedy recovery.”

The MEC says he is extremely concerned about a street vendor being ‘brave enough’ to sell these cookies to learners.