Feeding scheme suspected of food poisoning
Evah Mokwena
Kwaguqa Primary School located at Vosman village in Witbank, has faced a tragedy that left learners scared and no longer trusting the food given to them during lunch. In the past weeks, it has been alleged that a learner was poisoned by one of the school workers who is part of the school`s feeding scheme at the mentioned primary school. The said person is working as a cooker in the kitchen. The woman did not pour the poison into the pot but decided to send another learner to give the targeted learner the poisoned powder as a spice to make food more delicious. These two learners are still young and in the 3rd grade and still don’t understand anything.
The child poured the powder and ate, it didn’t even take time for the child to vomit and have a burning stomach. The school teachers didn’t know what to do, they were too slow to call an ambulance, and then the young innocent child died. The community of Ezinambeni is fighting with the government school, they have too many questions and requests as their children are attending the very same school and eating the very
same food.
I interviewed one of the community members to get more information and understand why they are fighting. The community member chose to remain anonymous and had this to say:- Anonymous interviewer; As a community member and also as a parent of one of the school`s learners in Kwaguqa Primary School, I am so heartbroken to hear such news. How on earth can a normal being poison an innocent young child who has a future waiting for her? To cut this
short, we are pleading with the Municipality to employ trustworthy people willing to give good care to our children and hire one nurse in every school in case of emergency.
The community is pleading on the matter and that the Department of Education holds a meeting with the School Governing Body [SGB] and the Municipality to take the case further. The one who did wrong must be punished because some learners depend on the food, they are struggling at home. The school is their safe place but when such cases occur, no one is safe, as there is hunger in other families.
