Rising School Food Poisoning Sparks Outrage Over Safety Failures

Another wave of food poisoning cases in South African schools has reignited public outrage and highlighted serious safety concerns in the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Experts and community leaders are now calling for urgent reforms as pupils continue to fall ill, with some requiring hospitalisation.

Limpopo Incident: 50 Pupils Sickened

In the latest episode, around 50 pupils at Mahuntsi Secondary School in Malamulele, Limpopo, were hospitalised after experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea. The Limpopo Department of Education confirmed that NSNP officials are investigating the school’s kitchens, food storage, and utensils to determine the source of contamination.

“All vendors operating near the school have been banned until further notice,” said department spokesperson Mike Maringa. Paramedics attended to the pupils immediately, preventing further complications.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged swift action. Jacques Smalle, DA education spokesperson in Limpopo, said:

“The increasing number of food poisoning incidents demands immediate action. The school nutrition programme feeds about 1.4 million pupils. We cannot allow children’s lives to be put at risk.”

Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga: A Pattern Emerges

Limpopo is not the only province affected. Last month, over 150 pupils at Gobizizwe Agricultural School near Mthatha, Eastern Cape, fell ill with stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea. In July, more than 30 children at MP Mokoena Primary School in Marite, Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, suffered similar symptoms after reportedly consuming oranges provided by the school kitchen.

Some reports from Mpumalanga were especially alarming, with a source claiming that children were vomiting blood.

Community Leaders Call for Accountability

The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) has called for urgent investigations into the NSNP and its suppliers. Matakanye Matakanye, NASGB chair, expressed concern:

“Something is clearly wrong with the school feeding scheme. Authorities need to investigate the food suppliers immediately.”

Remoneilwe Diale, from the Lady of Peace Community Foundation, warned that these incidents reflect systemic weaknesses in food safety management, including inadequate monitoring, poor hygiene practices, and gaps in accountability structures.

Despite mounting evidence, a spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, Elijah Mhlanga, has denied that the NSNP may be responsible for the illnesses, a stance that has drawn criticism from parents, teachers, and local media.

Parents and Social Media Outcry

Social media has amplified public frustration, with parents demanding answers and expressing fears about sending their children to school. Many have shared firsthand accounts of pupils being hospitalised or suffering prolonged illness after consuming school meals. Hashtags like #SafeSchoolMeals and #NSNPUnderScrutiny have trended across platforms, signaling widespread concern.

A Call for Reform

The repeated food poisoning cases across multiple provinces suggest that the problem is not isolated but systemic. Experts warn that without immediate action, stricter monitoring, and accountability measures, children will continue to suffer, undermining the very purpose of the NSNP: to improve child nutrition and education outcomes.

As investigations continue, communities are watching closely, hoping that lessons will be learned before more children fall ill. For many, the question is no longer why these incidents occur, but why it has taken so long for authorities to ensure school meals are truly safe.

{Source: The Citizen}

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