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NASGB Demands Urgent Action After Pupils Hospitalised in School Food Poisoning Outbreaks
South Africa’s National School Nutrition Programme, meant to keep pupils fed and learning, is under scrutiny after two unsettling incidents in just a few weeks. In both the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, young learners fell seriously ill from meals served at school. Now, urgent calls for accountability are growing.
Meals Turned Hazardous
At Gobizizwe Agricultural School near Mthatha, more than 150 pupils were hospitalised with symptoms including stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Seventy were immediately rushed to hospitals, followed by dozens more in the days that followed.
Not too long before that, at MP Mokoena Primary in Bushbuckridge, around 30 learners became ill after consuming oranges prepared in the school kitchen.
For families depending on school meals for a child’s day-to-day survival, the implications are deeply disturbing.
NASGB Sounds the Alarm
The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB), representing parent and school leadership interests, has demanded urgent action. Chair Matakanye Matakanya emphasised the troubling reality:
“Despite banning outside vendors, these poisoning incidents continue. Whoever supplies harmful meals must be stopped. Parents and communities must stand up and demand safety.”
Experts and Politicians Back the Demand
Education specialist Hendrick Makaneta emphasised that the crisis reveals gaps in oversight. Many families are still grieving after fatalities linked to unsafe spaza shop snacks in 2024. He called for comprehensive supplier audits and verified compliance certificates for food handling.
The Democratic Alliance, through shadow MEC Horatio Hendricks, is pressing for swift action. He wants the Gobizizwe outbreak thoroughly investigated, unsafe suppliers suspended, and a province-wide audit of all school kitchens within 60 days.
“Accountability is non-negotiable. No child should be at risk from school meals,” he said.
Authorities Under Pressure
The Eastern Cape Department of Health confirmed paramedics attended to pupils on-site before the serious cases were transferred to hospitals. Meanwhile, the Education Department has deferred comments, and the Basic Education Department has yet to respond on whether nationwide supplier reviews are forthcoming.
A Crisis of Trust
For parents in under-resourced communities, school meals are often the only reliable source of nutrition. When that trust is broken through illness, it isn’t just a health concern; it shakes the very foundation of the system meant to support them.
With pressure mounting across the education sector, the question remains: will this become a turning point for ensuring safety, transparency, and integrity in school meal provision?
Also read: Cape Town Teen Arrested After Attempted Hijacking of Ian Cameron and DA Colleagues
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Freepik
