ABOUT 22 pupils from Tlotlompho Primary School in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane were rushed to a local medical facility after falling sick at school on Thursday, 19 October.
It's alleged the pupils came to school with snacks suspected to have expired and shared them with other kids which led them to experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and shortness of breath.
School Governing Body (SGB) chairman Charles Makoea said he was called by the principal in the morning that there was an emergency as pupils were experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting.
"It was discovered that the learners ate snacks which they bought from a hawker," he said.
Makoea said this was the first incident to happen at the school and he blamed the community members who are selling the snacks to pupils.
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According to Makoea, it's alleged that the snacks were shared among pupils at school, raising concerns about the safety of such spaza shop businesses.
"We need the government to intervene. They can't do business while we are suffering. We want these spaza shops to be closed and be given back to local communities," he said.
He said the food sold at these spaza shops is not safe for human consumption and one can hardly see the expiry dates.
A 59-year-old community member said: "This is not good. Our children must be taught not buy food on the streets."
Gauteng education spokesman Steve Mabona said that in a separate incident, 40 pupils from Reimolotswe Primary School in Winterveld fell ill after eating a snack called dibombolina bought from various street vendors around the school.
Mabona urged SGBs, parents, and the community to be vigilant and check all food and snacks sold in and around schools.
