A grade 3 learner from GJ Podile Primary School in Ramosadi, near Mahikeng has passed away due to suspected food poisoning.
According to the North West Department of Education the learner passed away on Friday.
The department said the learner arrived at the school with a sibling, who is a Grade 5 learner, and both complained that they’re not feeling well.
“According to initial reports, the two siblings, who are both learners at the school, presented signs of illness shortly after arriving at the premises.
The school immediately arranged emergency medical assistance.
Both learners were transported to Mahikeng Provincial Hospital, where the Grade 3 learner was sadly declared dead upon arrival.
The Grade 5 sibling remains in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU),” read a statement from the department.
In addition, the department said although the exact cause of the learners’ illnesses hasn’t been determined yet, preliminary information from the surviving learner suggests that the two had consumed snacks purchased from a local shop the previous day.
“The Department is awaiting the outcome of medical investigations and toxicology reports to establish the cause of this heartbreaking incident,” added the statement.
Meanwhile, the MEC for Education in the North West, Viola Motsumi, has expressed sadness at the tragedy.
“We are devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of our young Grade 3 learner.
No parent should ever have to experience the pain of losing a child, especially under such distressing circumstances.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this immense grief.
We also continue to hope for the full recovery of the surviving sibling and pledge our support to the family and school community,” remarked Motsumi.
The Department has sent a team of psychosocial support professionals to the school to provide trauma counselling to learners, educators, and affected families.
