- Suspected food poisoning cases in Komani rises to 143
- Learners protest at Zama Cash and Carry
- Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth calls for food inspections to intensify
Following the second day of alleged food poisoning in Komani (formerly Queenstown) in which the number of affected schools currently stands at four, learners from various Mlungisi schools protested outside the shop allegedly supplying hawkers and local spaza shops on Friday, October 27.
The protest comes after an alleged food poisoning outbreak which affected 120 learners from two neighboring schools in Komani yesterday, spread to two other schools this morning.
A meeting, called by the Economic Freedom Fighters with the shop’s management and staff was underway inside the premises. The gates were closed with a heavy police presence at the entrance of the business premises.
The affected schools are John Noah High School, Mpendulo Primary School, Edlelweni Public Primary School and Lesseyton High School.
Lesseyton is some 11km outside Komani.
Other stakeholders in the meeting included Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) health services practitioners, police and Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality representatives, learner representatives from various schools, and Komani Protest Action representatives.
Outside the premises, learners were singing struggle songs including “phantsi ngoZama” loosely translated to “away with Zama”.
Points raised in the meeting were checking if the store met trading requirements, the state of hygiene as some operators allegedly slept in the shops as well as the quality of the products sold by the shop.
It was also reported that earlier in today, police officers, acting in conjunction with CHDM health practitioners, had confiscated snacks and boxes of chicken due to labelling irregularities.
Speaking to some of the learners on the sidelines of the meeting, their aim was to close the shop along with local spaza shops supplied by it.
Grade 11 learner from Luvuyo Lerumo, Asiphe Blaai (17) said there were no reported incidents at her school.
“But we are here in solidarity with our brothers and sisters from the other schools. We are saying this needs to stop and should not go on any further. We want this shop closed and we want the hawkers in the schools to stop selling,” said Blaai.
John Noah learner, Zukhanye Mhlangulana (16) echoed the sentiments of closures. John Noah High School was the second school to be affected on October 26.
“One of my classmates bought a packet of snacks for R5 before break time and wanted to eat them in class. But when she opened it, we discovered pills inside. We asked her not to eat the snacks, but she just threw the pills out and ate the snacks. Soon after that, she started scratching her upper body saying it was itchy. She then had foam in her mouth before vomiting blood. It was very traumatic and scary,” she said.
Lilitha Peter, a grade 6 learner at Mpendulo said, “We are here to fight for our rights. Our right to life and to fight inconsiderate people who sell us these products knowing they would never let their children eat them.”
She said if the shops were not closed it would hurt deeply.
“We sacrificed writing exams today and we came here. We have walked a long distance (around 5km) and it must not be in vain,” she said.
Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth called for food inspections to intensify, and action taken against those found selling expired goods.
“The number of learners presenting abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, itchiness, high temperature, and shortness of breath has now increased to 143,” said Meth.
“We are calling on municipalities working with relevant stakeholders like law enforcement agencies to intensify food safety inspection operations because we cannot afford to have shop owners selling expired goods to our children, which at times includes expired baby formula.”
Meanwhile, CHDM spokesperson, Bulelwa Ganyaza said executive mayor, Lusanda Sizani has convened a virtual multi-sectoral Joint Operations Committee meeting to look into the matter.
The district municipality remains on high alert and the community will be appraised of any further developments in this regard,” Ganyaza said.
