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FOOD POISON HITS SCHOOL

TAKING ACTION: principal Matladi Mailula says it is difficult for hungry pupils to concentrate after a feeding scheme was barred from school for allegedly supplying poisoned food. 03/02/09. Pic. Alex Matlala. © Sowetan.
TAKING ACTION: principal Matladi Mailula says it is difficult for hungry pupils to concentrate after a feeding scheme was barred from school for allegedly supplying poisoned food. 03/02/09. Pic. Alex Matlala. © Sowetan.

Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

Parents have stopped a feeding scheme from servicing a school after after pupils and teachers became ill after a meal.

Members of the school governing body supported the move to stop the company from supplying food at the Maatla Primary in Sekororo village near Tzaneen after children and teachers vomited and others collapsed .

The incident took place last Thursday. Five teachers and 283 pupils were admitted at Dr CN Phatudi, Letaba, Tintswalo and Sekororo hospitals after they fell ill following claims of the food poison.

The school had to close for two days because most of its pupils were off-sick.

Teaching resumed yesterday after most of those who were admitted at hospitals had been discharged at the weekend, save for two who were still receiving treatment.

It was suspected that the water used to make juice and food could have been contaminated.

Strangely, the service provider has been identified as Demnia Construction Company.

The parents are questioning the authenticity of the scheme and want to know why a construction company got a tender to supply food.

School principal Matladi Hezekiel Mailula says they have been using the company since last year.

"We have never experienced any problems," he said.

He said it was unfortunate that they had to stop the company from supplying the food until such time the problem has been identified.

Mailula said although teaching had resumed, it was difficult for children to concentrate with empty stomachs.

Spokesman for the provincial department of health Phuti Seloba said it was very important for companies supplying food to schools to undergo training on hygiene.

Ndo Mangala, spokesman for the Department of Education in Limpopo, promised to comment later in the day but had not done so at the time of going to press late yesterday.

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