#FoodPoisoning: Close to 100 learners rushed to Messina Hospital
The learners reported symptoms such as severe stomach pain, vomiting, and headaches shortly after eating food provided by the school.
LIMPOPO – Nearly 100 learners from Bale Primary School in the Niani area were rushed to Messina Hospital last Monday following a suspected case of food poisoning.
The learners reported symptoms such as severe stomach pain, vomiting, and headaches shortly after eating food provided by the school.
One of the affected learners, whose name is withheld, described what happened.
“We enjoyed cooked samp at school, but soon after, many of us started having stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Things worsened when we got back to class, as everyone was complaining about the same symptoms. I genuinely thought I was going to die.”
He said that although treatment was provided, their symptoms persisted.
Parents and the community are blaming the school’s cooking staff, demanding accountability for the incident. Ambulances were called to transport the affected children to Messina Hospital.
Health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana confirmed the incident, stating that the learners were treated for abdominal pain and vomiting.
“The medical team reported that all learners are stable and receiving care,” he said. However, the exact cause of the illness is still under investigation.
“The common factor is the meal the learners had at school,” Shikwambana explained. “It is suspected, but not confirmed, that the food might be the source. Tests are being conducted to determine the cause.”
All affected learners were treated and later discharged, though the incident has left parents demanding answers and assurances of their children’s safety.
