PIENAAR – More than 75 pupils from Sindzawonye Primary School were rushed to Rob Ferreira and Themba hospitals after they allegedly consumed poison on Tuesday. This has been confirmed by the Department of Education.
Parents received alarming calls around midday to say their children were vomiting after consuming food bought from hawkers at the school’s gate.
Some of the parents heard the announcement from Ligwalagwala FM while others who reside in the vicinity of the school rushed over after hearing ambulance sirens.
The gogo, who was accused of having sold poisoned ice pops, said she was falsely accused as she only had 20 of them and only sold 10 at the school that day.
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A security guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Mpumalanga News that mayhem broke out after some of the children noticed they had eaten expired goods.
“Kids started vomiting after eating ice pops while others saw that the goods had expired and took them to the principal’s office. The latter called ambulances to ferry the children to the hospitals for treatment,” he said.
The pupils said they usually bought these goods for R1. On Tuesday they were sold at 50 cents each after some of the pupils started to vomit.
One of the parents was informed by a neighbour that her child was among those taken to hospital. “I was shocked about what had happened.
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“We rushed to the hospital together with some other parents,” said Ms Nokuthula Moya.
The majority of vendors who do business at the school allegedly obtain their stock from a nearby dumping site – Sibhobozweni Dumping Site near Tekwane South.
“It is not the first time such an incident has happened. A pupil from the same school previously swallowed a pin that was in her food. That hawker was told to leave the school,” the children said. “Sometimes we find cockroaches, ants and insects in the snacks, but we buy them because we must eat,” they added.
Parents voiced their anger about some of the teachers’ negative attitude. They alleged some said they should take better care of their kids.
Spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mr Jasper Zwane, confirmed they had received a report from Sindzawonye Primary about the incident.
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“Before speculating, proper investigations need to be conducted. A majority of the learners was discharged and none have been admitted. They will undergo counselling tomorrow (Wednesday). However, the cause might not be the ice lollies, but something else they could have eaten during the day,” said Zwane.
