By Theodorah Waga Mawasha
MAPITLULA VILLAGE-The learners of Stanley Mopai secondary school at Mapitlula village in Bolobedu allegedly locked horns with the school’s headmaster and the School Governing Body (SGB) members on Friday, July 29. This is after learners were alleging that feeding scheme food are rat infested.
It is alleged some learners started complaining of stomach cramps after eating samp during lunch time on Friday.
A pregnant learner was allegedly also affected by the stomach bug and that is when they raised suspicion of food poisoning to the teachers.
It is said that that’s when one of the kitchen staff revealed that rats were seen coming out of the bag of samp.
A learner who spoke to the publication anonymously said that what has happened at other schools around Tzaneen in recent weeks alarmed them and they fear for their lives, but the teachers seem unbothered by these concerns.
Learners are some of the more than 9.6-million children who depend on the national school feeding programme, according to department of basic education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga. The programme was introduced in 1994 to curb hunger by providing, ideally, two meals a day to learners.
Tzaneen Voice contacted the headmaster of the school Marcia Motloutsi, who declined to comment on the allegations and instead referred us to the SGB members who could not be reached.
The Department of Education has promised to investigate the allegations.
