Police launch inquest following hospitalisation of 16 Tembisa pupils

JOHANNESBURG - Police have registered an inquiry into an incident where 16 primary school learners fell ill at a Tembisa school on Wednesday after allegedly consuming atchar.

The atchar was sold by two grade 7 learners who were doing so on behalf of a community works programme employee, based at Emmangweni Primary School.

According to the community, the woman supplying the atchar purchased by the learners had only been selling the items for a month.

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She has been working as a community works programme employee based at the school since 2016.

The woman was taken in for questioning by police after the learners were hospitalised.

"We are hopeful that by tomorrow the rest of the children will be at school but as it were about six of the children came to school and we wish the rest of them a speedy recovery," said the Gauteng Department of Education's spokesperson - Steve Mabona.