SEKHUKHUNE – The Limpopo Department of Education has rubbished reports that five learners have died after allegedly eating contaminated food. The department have instead confirmed that hundreds of learners from various schools in the Sekhukhune district were treated and released from hospitals.
According to the paper’s sources, the learners had allegedly consumed particles of glass and stones found in the foods.
The reports of learners being treated for contaminated foods first surfaced last month when it was alleged that a learner of Magale Primary School in Tshehlwaneng died from the food.This resulted in the department allegedly terminating the contracts of Dingatana and Amandla Karabo feeding schemes. The health spokesman Mr Macks Lesufi confirmed that more than 250 learners have since been treated in hospitals. Lesufi also added that they were not aware of any child that died in hospital as a result of eating the contaminated food.
Education authorities have squashed reports that the deaths of five learners in the past two months are linked to the contamination.
Speaking to Steelburger/Lydenburg News Limpopo education department spokesperson, Mr Paena Galane declared he was not aware of any deaths.
“There is no report whatsoever that has been given to us on any death of any child that died within our premises because of the food that we give to learners. So at the moment, everything that has been reported to us has been issues at hospitals that have been attended to and nothing else.”
According to newspaper reports the last child was reported to have died last week after eating lunch at Kwena-Tshwene Primary School at Ngwaritsi village.
Meanwhile the Democratic alliance (DA) in Limpopo accused the department of endangering the lives of the learners.
Spokesman of the party in the province, Mr Stephen Mbedzi confirmed to this reporter that they have laid five murder charges against the department.
“The deceased were from some of the schools where the contaminated food was also delivered.”
