Schools to defer food sales

The Gauteng department of education has instructed all schools to suspend the sale of food within and around school premises until further notice.

- Faizel Patel

This decision comes after the recent alarming increase in incidents of food-borne illnesses affecting pupils across schools in the province.

Gauteng has experienced a spate of deaths and hospital admissions linked to the consumption of food and snacks from spaza shops and vendors.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said they were deeply concerned that these incidents have led to loss of life and illness among pupils.

In response, we are implementing immediate measures to safeguard the health and wellbeing of pupils.

Schools and school governing bodies (SGBs) are instructed to closely monitor and regulate vendors, tuckshops and other outlets that sell food to pupils.