By Nkhensani Chauke
The SA Democratic Teachers Union has called on local government to play a more proactive role in ensuring consistency and compliance with food handling and food safety by spaza shops and vendors.
This follows six learners dying and dozens of others being poisoned across the province in recent weeks.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said educational and advocacy programmes on food safety and handling were important.
“The union is deeply disturbed by the alarming increase in the number of food poisoning cases involving learners in the month of October following the tragic death of 6 children aged between 6 and 10 from Naledi, Soweto, after they allegedly ate poisoned snacks bought from a local spaza shop,” he said
On Thursday, 25 learners from Mshuluzane Mayisela Primary School in Zithobeni in Bronkhorspruit were taken to hospital after eating food from street vendors.
Maluleke has commended teachers and the Basic Education Department for responding immediately to the conditions and ensuring that learners received medical attention.
“These incidents highlight the need for permanent psychosocial services in our schools to assist the learners as well as the teachers when such incidents occur,” he said.
“We urge the Department of Basic Education, through the National School Nutrition Programme, to invest in food handlers in schools who are employed by school government bodies by ensuring that they receive proper training on food safety, food handling, have proper infrastructure and resources to handle, cook and serve hygienic food to the learners.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
