KZN Department of Education calls on vendor vetting for schools

After a recent alleged poisoning case where seven learners suffered from food-related illness, the department is calling on schools to vet school vendors and neighbouring tuckshops.

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has called on principals and members of school governing bodies (SGB) to start vetting vendors selling snacks in and outside of the school premises following a recent spate of alleged poisoning cases which resulted in learners being rushed to hospital for urgent medical care.

In the most recent case in eMthwalume, seven learners from Bongucele Secondary School were affected by a food-related illness on Wednesday morning. Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said that six of these learners received medical treatment and were subsequently discharged.

“The seventh learner, who is pregnant, was kept in hospital under medical observation as a precautionary measure,” he said.

Also Read: 90 percent of poisonings happen at home

In a circular issued by the department following the incident, it stated that “All principals of schools and the school governing bodies are reminded to take full charge in meeting and vetting all vendors who sell to learners while at school and to engage with owners of the shops along the learners’ routes to schools. This is mainly to engage with them regarding the importance of selling healthy snacks to learners and to ascertain whether they are buying from reputable retailers.”

The department believes that this intervention will assist in reducing such cases. The first incident was at Ngaqa Primary School in Mtubatuba where 43 learners were affected and needed medical attention.

“For this to be successful, principals and SGBs must register a manageable number of vendors and avail space for them to do business within the school premises. Vet all vendors to avoid letting individuals who may be in the sex offenders’ registers into the school and, by implication, cause them to be closer to learners. Discuss with the vendors on healthy snacks they may sell to learners and measures on how to ensure that they procure such from reputable wholesalers observing all relevant health prescriptions. Learners must be protected from anything that may compromise their lives. They must therefore be advised to avoid buying from unreliable or dodgy vendors en route to and from schools to protect themselves,” said the Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, in the circular.

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