LIMPOPO – Thirty-nine learners from Mawela Primary School in Sereni, outside Elim, were admitted to Elim Hospital on June 3 after falling ill during school hours.

Most of the children recovered quickly. Thirty-five were discharged on the morning of June 5, with another learner released later that afternoon.

The chairperson of the School Governing Body, Fiona Sikhoshule, said learners began complaining of stomach pains shortly after their lunch break. Some then started vomiting.

When school officials asked what the children had eaten, they discovered that all of them had bought snacks from vendors outside the school gate.

Rushed to clinic, then hospital

“We rushed them to the nearest clinic, but nurses advised that they required hospital treatment, so they were taken to Elim Hospital,” said Sikhoshule.

She said the school suspects the snacks may have caused the illness, but is awaiting the results of laboratory tests. The Department of Health collected samples for analysis.

Vendor disputes blame

One of the vendors selling snacks and fat cakes outside the school denied that her products were responsible.

“I have been selling the same brand of snacks for many years and no one has ever complained of becoming ill after eating them. We buy our stock from a trusted supplier.

“The learners ate the snacks and became sick shortly afterwards, but I believe they may have eaten something else, possibly from the school feeding scheme,” she said.

Hawkers temporarily suspended

The vendor said she and seven other hawkers had been temporarily suspended from trading at the school while investigations continue.

According to her, the principal informed them that they would be contacted once the source of the illness had been established.

Education department confirms incident

Education spokesperson Mike Maringa confirmed the incident. He said the learners were admitted to hospital with symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and sore throats.

“The children received medical treatment and the majority responded very well,” he said.

Investigations by the relevant authorities into the cause of the illness are continuing.