As Limpopo school children are admitted to hospital for food poisoning, lobby group the Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa has called on South Africa’s intelligence community to get to the bottom of the crisis that has left scores of learners either killed or hospitalised. 

The foundation’s Deputy Chairperson, Hendrick Makaneta, has taken a jab at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government, accusing it of being reactive to national crises. 

This included matters of national importance, such as the food poisoning crisis blamed on spaza shops owned and operated by illegal foreigners.  

On Thursday, in the latest string of food poisoning incidents involving schoolchildren, at least 59 pupils from Dzumeri Primary School in Ndhambi village were rushed to Nkhensani Hospital in Giyani, Limpopo. 

Since October, Malamulele in Vhembe district and Giyani in Mopani district have recorded over 90 food poisoning incidents involving pupils. 

Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Mosebjane Kgaffe confirmed that learners had been fed porridge and milk from the School Nutrition programme. Some also ate fat cakes and sweets.

“All the learners are in a stable condition. Inspectors will immediately start with investigations to establish the cause. The province has lifted the ban on food sales within the school premises,” Kgaffe said. 

“Learners were rushed to the Local Nkhensani Hospital when they started vomiting, and others complained of stomach cramps. As a precautionary measure, the school took all learners who were in contact with the few that showed symptoms to hospital. Learners were fed porridge and milk from the School Nutrition Programme, but preliminary reports indicate that they also had fat cakes and sweets,” she added.

Limpopo Department of Health Spokesperson Neil Shikwambana was not available to comment on the admitted learners’ status. 

Makaneta said the food poisoning crisis is a “national disaster that calls for a state of emergency”. 

“Every day, we hear about learners being rushed to hospitals due to food poisoning. The big problem is that some learners have died in Gauteng due to this matter. It should not be taken lightly. One death is a big problem. We do not want death in our schools. Yes, we welcome President Ramaphosa’s proclamation on regulations of spaza shops. Vendors who sell these foods must also be arrested for violating the rights of the people,” Makaneta said.

The education activist also criticised the country’s intelligence community for being slow in tackling issues that threaten the safety and stability of civilians. 

“Big question is, where is our national intelligence when we need them the most? This is because even during July uprisings in 2021. The government was late to respond to those riots after malls and shops were torched. That was when they reacted. You are right to say the government is never proactive in dealing with matters.”

“They are never proactive, never ever. The government must work with national intelligence. They must know where these illnesses come from. The reality is that this food was purchased somewhere, and intelligence was supposed to have already announced the root cause of food poisoning in South Africa,” Makaneta added. 

State Security Agency spokesperson Mava Scott was not immediately available to respond to Makaneta’s call.  

Food poisoning incidents have increased in Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the Free State. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said at least 441 cases of food poisoning and 23 deaths have been reported throughout the province.

Mpumalanga recorded 43 pupils, in two separate cases, affected by food poisoning incidents.

Enzani Primary School in Matsulu reported a case of suspected food poisoning after 24 pupils were rushed to Rob Ferreira Hospital. At the same time, 21 pupils from Marhagi Secondary School in Verena, in the Nkangala Municipality, were hospitalised after they complained of having stomach cramps and headaches.

The Free State Province reported three incidents where over 100 learners were affected by food poisoning. No death report has been recorded yet. 

Last month, fuming residents of Naledi, Soweto, took to the streets, looted, and burnt down foreign-owned spazas after the deaths of the six children who allegedly ate snacks. However, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi later confirmed that the cause of death of the six children was not food poisoning but a chemical called Organo Phosphate.

In May, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCM) in the Eastern Cape closed 14 spaza shops after a multi disciplinary raid conducted by its Municipal Health Services alongside the police, the South African Revenue Service (Sars), the Department of Labour and the Department of Home Affairs. 

They seized counterfeit goods and illegal pesticides and insecticides, among others. The BCM said in a statement that the close spaza shops had violated several laws and regulations, including lack of business licences and acceptability certificates. 

The government has repeatedly said it is working hard to address the crisis. Ramaphosa recently signed a proclamation regulating spaza shops. Gauteng metropolitan municipalities agreed to review and standardise by-laws on spaza shops.