The Department of Education is calling for thorough vetting of school service providers

On Wednesday, seven students from Bongucele Secondary School in uMthwalume were treated for a food-related illness after purchasing chips from a spaza shop.

Six students have already been discharged from the hospital. One pregnant student is still under medical care.

The circular, issued by the department’s head, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, provides guidance on how school principals and governing bodies can prioritize student safety.

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This includes vendors selling snacks on school grounds and in nearby stores.

These measures include registering a reasonable number of vendors, maintaining regular cleanliness and the importance of selling healthy snacks.

Groceries must be purchased from reliable retailers.

Education also says that regular inspections should be carried out to avoid selling expired food.

The department believes these checks will reduce the rising number of food poisoning cases in the province.

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