The three suspects arrested in connection with selling muffins laced with narcotics (space cookies) at a Tshwane school made a brief appearance before the Soshanguve Magistrates Court on Thursday, 18 April.
About 90 learners from Grades R to grade 7 at Pulamamadibogo Primary School in Soshanguve (Jukulyn) Block Y complained of nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting after buying and eating the muffins.
All hell broke loose as classes were interrupted; Tshwane Emergency Service came to the rescue to distribute all affected learners to various health facilities in Tshwane, where all were hospitalised as a result of the incident.
The three accused, Amukelani Nyulunga (20), Katlego Matlala (30), and Ofentse Maluleka (22), are all charged with 19 counts of attempted murder and 19 charges of selling narcotic-laced muffins to schoolchildren.
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Lesego Letlape (41), a community member, said the legal action has been dragging on and that they are unsure when it will be resolved.
"My child was a Grade 7, and he still has stomach difficulties from the incident; he is no longer in the school, but the incident may have caused him permanent disease," she said.
Another parent said the Department of Education is allegedly no longer interested in the case.
"Tshwane North District was hands on in this matter when it began, they would give us information at school but since this year began we never heard anything from them," she said.
She added that her daughter lost interest in baked goods, "Last Christmas, my daughter didn't want to eat any cookies; she was traumatised from the incident because it was her first time in hospital, and she was admired for three days," she said.
The case was postponed to Friday, 3 May, and the trio will remain in detention.
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