There have been calls for urgent action following a spate of suspected food poisoning cases in the country, with concerns raised about the quality of the products being sold by spaza shops and street vendors.
Dozens of pupils in KZN, Limpopo and Mpumalanga fell ill recently.
Basic Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department is worried about the increasing reports of food poisoning involving children of school-going age.
In all the cases, the pupils had eaten items bought from vendors and spaza shops near schools.
“These incidents of food poisoning have disrupted teaching and learning as the majority of the cases affected learners during school hours,” said Mhlanga.
“As a result, school time has been directed towards assisting the affected learners with medical attention.
“In addition, the psycho-social impact of such incidents continues to have negative effects on both the learners and teachers.”
Mhlanga said none of the incidents are linked to the National School Nutrition Programme.
“The National School Nutrition Programme is a key government programme aligned with the National Development Plan 2030 to address hunger, malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies.
“The programme provides nutritious meals to 9.7 million learners on school days. With that said, the DBE has the responsibility to intensify its efforts to improve food safety and hygiene practices and to raise awareness.
“It must be made clear that many incidents experienced relate to food items bought through informal vendors.
“The entire community where the school is located should take responsibility for the wellbeing of its children, especially if the items consumed are sold outside school premises.”
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