At least 90 Pupils in Soshanguve Get Sick After Eating Muffins.

By Tshegofatso Ramaphoko

The next day after the incident other unaffected learners going to school. Photo by: Times Live.

At least 90 of the Pulamadibogo Primary School pupils in Soshanguve, North of Pretoria allegedly fell ill after eating muffins that they bought for R2. Shortly after that the learners were rushed to the nearest clinic to receive medical attention.

During the medical examination it was found through tests conducted that the muffins contained a drug called Marijuana, which some refer to it as ‘space cookies’. One of the primary school workers that cook for the schools feeding scheme program admitted that they feed the pupils porridge every morning even the day of the incident the pupils had the porridge however, she did not believe that the issues might have been a result of the porridge because of how the learners were acting.

“We served porridge today to the kids but personally I cannot say it's the porridge that we gave them in the morning that caused these kids to be sick because most of the learners who were taken to the principal's office after acting strange told us and the teachers that they ate the muffins they bought from two guys”, said one of the feeding schemes cook.

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug that helps relax the mind and at times it can make one have anxiety, or paranoia. However, the Pulamadibogo Primary School pupils had different symptoms than usual. A grade four teacher Ms. Dlamini mentioned that the leaners complained of stomach cramps, headache, vomiting while others hallucinated saying they see cartoons such as Spider Man.

One of the shocked parents upon her arrival to the school after being contacted by the school was surprised by the chaotic scene of learners who did not seem to be well and the number of ambulances which were there.

During the parents meeting after the incident. Photo by: Tshegofatso Ramaphoko.

“I rushed to the school shorty after the school called me and went to my child's class and after realising, she was fine, I attended to other kids. I was confused to see so many ambulances, I thought some kids had died,” said the one of the pupils’ parent, Susana Mahwai.

It was said that one of the parents Thabiso Mekoa, was just passing by from home to a shop near by the school. The parent mentioned that he were surprised cause he saw a fleet of cars and ambulance and a chaotic up and down scene of teachers and parents running around the taps and classrooms.

“I was on my way to get bread when I saw people entering the school premises and I thought maybe there was a meeting. I thought I missed the meeting or forgot but as I approached i saw a police van and ambulances and many cars too. I then decided to go see what the problem was, I started to panic and went in the school. As I enter, I saw children being loaded onto ambulances in a critical state,” said Thabiso Mekoa.

Due to the number of parents and the critical situation the police advised the parents to wait at the school for more information so they can avoid traffic at the local emergency facilities.

A case has been opened with the Rietgaat Police Station in Soshanguve and arrests have been made however court dates have not been issued yet.