20 learners from KwaGuqa Primary School were hospitalised last Friday after stomach pains
All learners have since been treated and discharged.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education will dispatch officials to KwaGuqa Primary School following a reported incident in which more than 20 learners were hospitalised after complaining of stomach pains
.
According to the department, 21 learners were rushed to the hospital on March 20 after falling ill during the school day.
“All 21 learners were attended to, observed, and subsequently released from hospital on the same day,” Jasper Zwane, the department spokesperson, said.
The department added that a further group of learners who were taken to the hospital by their parents also received medical attention and have since been treated.
Officials from the Departments of Health and Municipal Environmental Health Services have already visited the school as part of the investigation.
“Food samples have been collected for testing,” Zwane confirmed.
The department said its officials will visit the school on March 23 to gather further information regarding the circumstances that led to the incident. It also noted that psychosocial support will be provided to both learners and educators.
Reassuring the community, the department emphasised that the National School Nutrition Programme remains safe.
“Stringent precautionary measures are always implemented to ensure the quality and safety of meals provided to learners. The department will continue to work closely with the School Governing Body and relevant stakeholders to create a safe and conducive learning environment and to prevent any recurrence of such incidents,” Zwane said.
In a recent incident, there was also a suspected food-related illness involving learners at Ekwazini Secondary School on March 17.
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