Gauteng education officials are suspending the sale of food items in school supplies

• Schools in Gauteng have been ordered to stop selling food and snacks amid the raging food poisoning crisis
• The province has experienced more than 300 foodborne incidents, claiming the lives of nearly two dozen children
• Gauteng education officials said minimal exceptions would be made for the consumables that could be sold to students

JOHANNESBURG — As Cases of food poisoning continue to wreak havoc across the province, Gauteng education officials took decisive steps to thwart the crisis.

The provincial education department has ordered school order stores to immediately stop selling food and snacks until further notice.

Sales in school supply stores suspended

Since February Gauteng has recorded more than 300 foodborne illness incidents, mainly among primary and secondary school students.

About twenty children, ranging from six to nine years old, have died.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the incidents were deeply concerning for his department.

“In response, the department (is enforcing) immediate protective measures to (protect) the health and well-being of students,” Mabona said.

Officials pleaded schools and administrative bodies (SGBs) to apply the directive to street vendors and other food/snack traders in addition to biscuit shops.

An exception was made for this food items that could be sold, namely only food with nutritional value and non-adulterated or repackaged food items.

“The department calls on schools to enforce these guidelines without compromise. Non-compliance must be reported immediately.”

Gauteng Education Executive Committee Member (MEC) Matome Chiloane said schools and SGBs should encourage parents to prepare meals at home instead of giving their children lunch money.

“(This) is until the relevant authorities issue updated guidelines to protect the safety of the students,” Chiloane said.

“Schools are (also) encouraged to engage community organizations, stakeholders and small business associations in promoting efforts to prevent further incidents.”

Police appeal for calm after nine-year-old Alex girl dies

In related news: Short news reported that Gauteng police were monitoring the tense scenes outside a spa shop in Alexandra Township, north of Johannesburg.

It comes after a mother and her two children ate suspected spoiled snacks a day earlier, killing one of the minors and leaving the survivors in hospital.

Source: Kort Nieuws