The Limpopo Department of Education is looking into a possible food poisoning case at Makahlule Primary School in Malamulele, South Africa.
On Wednesday, 35 students showed signs of food poisoning, which prompted health authorities to take quick action.
The affected students were split into two groups and taken to a nearby clinic. In the morning, 22 children were taken to Malamulele Hospital after experiencing vomiting. They received treatment and have now been released.
Later that day, another group of 13 students reported symptoms like headaches and stomach cramps. They were also treated and sent home.
The education department is collecting food samples from the school to find out what caused the issue.
Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has urged parents to stay calm while the investigation is ongoing, assuring them that the situation is under control.
Lerule-Ramakhanya confirmed that authorities will test the school’s food and check snacks sold by vendors nearby, with help from health inspectors, to identify the source of the food poisoning.
“The department will take food samples that learners had on Wednesday for testing to ascertain if the school nutrition rations could have been the cause. [We] will also check the food, mainly snacks sold by vendors outside the school premises, with the assistance of health inspectors.
“We call on the parents and education community not to panic as the situation is under control and will be investigated thoroughly to ensure that learners are safe at all times,” stated Lerule-Ramakhanya.
This incident follows a recent tragedy in Naledi, Soweto, where five children died after eating poisoned snacks from a local shop.
Major General Fred Kekana, the acting police commissioner in Gauteng, said they are now checking food sold by vendors near schools and school feeding programmes.
Police have taken some snacks related to the Naledi incident to prevent further harm, as community members became angry and looted the shops involved.