Gauteng Education Dept instructs schools to suspend sale of food in and around premises

JOHANNESBURG - Schools in Gauteng have been instructed to suspend the sale of food in and around their premises as poisoning cases increase. 

There has been a spate of deaths and hospital admissions, mostly of children, linked to contaminated food sold by spaza shops.

The Gauteng Education Department said it was putting immediate measures to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils.

MEC Matome Chiloane said the suspension will last until the end of the 2024 academic year.

"We've come to the decision that let's halt this process ...from tuckshops and vendors around the school premises and urge parents to really start preparing meals for their children and those in quintile 1,2, 3, of course, there's school nutrition which is a provision for learners in all those schools."