The Health Minister says a chemical agent has been confirmed as the substance responsible for the deaths.

This follows 6 deaths in Naledi, Soweto this month after children ate contaminated snacks from Spaza shops.

Special broadcast on Food safety

As part of a Special SABC News broadcast, our reporters have been on the ground investigating a series of suspected food poisoning incidents in Gauteng and Mpumalanga that have affected several children.

Soweto

Earlier this month, six children tragically lost their lives in Naledi, Soweto, after consuming poisoned snacks purchased from a foreign-owned spaza shop. This incident has led to local protests and the closure of several spaza shops in the area.

Tshwane

In Bronkhorstspruit, east of Tshwane, 25 primary school students were recently treated for suspected food poisoning after consuming snacks from a nearby street vendor.

Mpumalanga

Just last week in Verena, Mpumalanga, 21 students from Marhagi Secondary School were hospitalised with symptoms such as headaches, stomach cramps, and vomiting, reportedly after eating atchar bought from a street vendor.

Tembisa

This week, yet another case unfolded in Tembisa, on Gauteng’s East Rand, where 16 students from Emmangweni Primary School were rushed to various medical facilities after experiencing dizziness and vomiting from a suspected foodborne illness.

Precautionary measures

The Department of Education in Limpopo has called on the co-operation of various stakeholders to curb further incidents of food poisoning incidents in schools.

The department has suspended food sales at schools throughout the province, following the death of a learner at Khubvi outside Thohoyandou on Thursday.

Scores fell ill due to suspected food poisoning in Malamulele two weeks ago.

Acting Head of Department, Martin Mashaba explains, “Due to these increased cases of alleged food poisoning where our learners are falling ill and others unfortunately passing away we have had to introduce precautionary measures that will safeguard the lives of our learners. Because of that from the 28th of October 2024, we are going to be suspending all selling of food within school yards and outside and in the vicinity of our schools.”

--SABC--