Media Statement
To: News Editors and Journalists
Dated: 7 November 2024
ECDoE MEC Gade concerned about alleged food poisoning and related deaths
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has issued a Memorandum to school dated October 29th , 2024 cautioning schools following the recent widespread reports of food poisoning and related deaths inthe province.
These occurrences have caused great concern to the Department and therefore a stance has been taken to ensure that schools implement the food safety policy guidelines as stipulated in the National School Nutrition Programme Revised Guidelines (2018). As such, the Easten Cape Department of Education MEC, Fundile Gade calls upon the schooling community to escalate all suspected food contamination and related illnesses or mortality through the District and Provincial communication channels.
“Not only do these incidents disrupt teaching as they often occur during school hours, but it has also been observed that these items are bought by learners from local shops in the vicinity of the schools and communities. Although some media reports have incorrectly attributed the food poisoning incidents to the National School Nutrition Programme, no evidence has been found in this regard”, warned Gade.
“Each of the Districts are provided with direct support to schools to ensure compliance with the National School Nutrition Programme which addresses identifying and addressing incidents of food contamination and food borne diseases”.
The Memorandum states that, ‘schools should ensure that they engage the National School Nutrition Monitors in the districts who are a linkage between the Department of Education, the Department of Health for medical support and the Local Government Officials that will investigate the causal factors of a suspected incident and implement local government regulations to prevent future occurrence’.
In the Memo, the Department places great emphasis on the wellness of learners and further instructs principals and the School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to ensure that vendors within the premises of schools meet the required accreditation for the preparation and serving of food or snack items. Furthermore, the communication urges and invites SGBs, the Senior Management Team (SMT) within the schools as well as the greater community of stakeholders and parents to draw closer to the learners and monitor them and alert officials of any suspected food poisoning.
Lastly, school Principals, Education Development Officers (EDOs) and School Governing Bodies (SGBs)are requested to engage local vendors that are within the vicinity of the school to communicate the concerns surrounding the recurrence of food poisoning illness and deaths.
“Working together will ensure that learners are safe, and their consumption is monitored. The Department conveys condolences to the families of the children who have passed away because of consuming poisoned food items”, said Gade.
Gade also urged parents and schools to be on the high alert to avert this from happening in their school, as this will guarantee that learners are safe.
Issued by the Eastern Cape Department of Education Communications Directorate. For any enquiries,please contact the DoE Spokesperson, Mr Mali Mtima at 083 795 2117, Acting Director: Communicationsand Events Management, Ms Nyameka Tokwe-Mgijima at 060 530 0348.