Learners rushed to hospital
Oupa Bodibe from Gauteng Education MEC office said the earlier reports which stated 60 learners were rushed to hospital is not correct.
SOUTHERNERS were left in shock and panic as 25 learners from Laerskool Suidhewels in South Hills were rushed to hospitals on Wednesday, November 9 – after eating sweets received from an unknown man who allegedly laced them with drugs.
The CHRONICLE was inundated with calls from parents wanting to know what had happened. The school reported that an unknown man gave learners ‘gummie bears’ which caused them to suffer unbearable abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
South Africa Search & Rescue in co-operation with Southside Angels, were called in to help. Judy Clements from Southside Angels said they were at the school the whole day to assist. “The children were taken for tests and some tested positive for drugs. We urge parents to always tell their children not to accept anything from strangers,” she said.
ER24, MedHelp, ALS, JMPD, K9, Moffatview SAPS, Forensics and Cortac vehicles and various ambulances, were all at the school to offer help.
On his Twitter account, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said: “Why will an adult try to poison or drug hundreds of kids at school nogal? #Heartless! Be well my kids; Papa loves you so much! Why do this to children? Avoid these sweets please. Advise the young ones at home.”
“Moffatview SAPS management would like to encourage parents to pack lunch for their children and also to teach them not to buy sweets from the street, or accept anything from strangers. Children bought sweets from an unknown male in our area on Wednesday, November 9. Different schools were affected by this situation – it’s alleged that the sweets were poisoned,” said communication officer, Mikateko Bila.
Oupa Bodibe from the Gauteng Education MEC office, said the earlier reports which stated 60 learners were rushed to hospital, aren’t correct. “Only 25 learners were treated from that school,” Bodibe said.
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