Lessons resumes at Mohlako Primary following suspected food poisoning deaths

Moteti – Teaching and learning has resumed on Tuesday 5 March at Mohlako Primary School in Moteti Village following the school’s closure over the death learners in alleged food poisoning incidents.

Lessons at the school were since suspended by parents and concerned community members on Wednesday 27 February after three pupils died after allegedly consuming poisonous food at the school.

Mohlako Primary caters over 500 pupils, from Grade R to Grade 7. The first death incident was reported on Monday 12 February while the other two learners passed away on Monday 19 February.

According to the community, all the victims complained with stomach cramps and end up passing away before they can reach the nearest health facilities for immediate help.

Following the incident, parents and community members acted in solidarity and engaged a prominent traditional healer to come to perform traditional rituals that will reveal those who are responsible for the deaths of the learners.

The traditional healer agreed to visit the school on 5 March, however, he cited that he has other commitments and sent his team to perform the rituals on his behalf. The learners were allowed to enter the school’s premises after the rituals were performed.

A community leader, Booker Makofane, said they are relieved now that the rituals were performed to unsure safety of the learners and staff members.

“However, currently, we cannot guarantee that the school is hundred percent safe. We have another appointment with the traditional doctor to come personally and pint-out those responsible for these unfortunate incident,” he said.

Makofane said parents are still devastated with the death incidents and are fearing that the food poisoning outbreak could affect their children if the problem is not eradicated.

“Parents are not free to send their children to school. The most worrying part is that it was confirmed during post-mortem results that the deceased children have indeed consumed poisonous food,” he said.

Despite raising a number of concerns with the Limpopo Department of Education (LDoE), Makofane said there was no intervention by the department ever since they reported the problem over three weeks ago.

“Everyone at the school is traumatized, in fact, this affected everyone in the village. We are worried that the Department of Education is not giving this matter any attention. They should have sent a team of food inspectors to ensure that the food is safe to be consumed,” he said.

LDoE Spokesperson, Matome Taueatsoala, said the department will investigate the issues and give considered response.