By Anita Dangazele
- More than 100 learners from Gobizizwe Agricultural School poisoned after eating rice and lucky star fish from the school nutrition programme.
- Most learners are treated and discharged while one remains in hospital and two others are monitored with only one seizure case.
More than 100 learners from Gobizizwe Agricultural School near Mthatha were rushed to hospital after suspected mass food poisoning on Wednesday.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health says the incident appears to have been caused by a meal from the National School Nutrition Programme.
“It is alleged that the scholars ate rice and Lucky Star fish at the school,” said department spokesperson Siyanda Manana.
Learners suffered vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and dizziness. Some also had seizures.
“They were taken to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre. In total, there were 131 scholars who were seen at the three health facilities,” Manana said.
Most learners were treated and sent home on Wednesday afternoon. One learner remains in hospital at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, while two others are being monitored at Mthatha Regional Hospital and given fluids.
Manana said one learner was flown to hospital by helicopter, while others were taken by ambulance and patient transport vehicles.
The Democratic Alliance’s Horatio Hendricks called for the source of the contamination to be investigated, unsafe food to be stopped, and a full check of food handling at the school and other sites in the OR Tambo District.
The Economic Freedom Fighters said the health of learners cannot be ignored. The party wants the source of the contamination shut down, emergency hygiene measures put in place, and a full investigation to hold those responsible to account.
This comes after the Daily Dispatch reported that only one out of 712 schools in Buffalo City Metro and Amathole West has the food safety certification required for school kitchens.
Meanwhile, learners are continuing to be admitted to hospitals across Mthatha.
Pictured above: A welcome board at Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ncise village, Mthatha.
Image source: Eastern Cape Department of Public Works
