Twenty-eight pupils of Madaheni Combined School were treated at the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital last Friday for suspected food poisoning.

Some of the affected pupils said the problem started shortly after they had eaten vetkoek they bought from vendors outside the school premises. They said that they were vomiting, suffered from severe headaches, stomach pains and diarrhoea.

One of the pupils, Beauty Ramovha, a Grade 7 pupil, said that most of them had developed diarrhoea. "Our stomachs were so painful that it was unbearable. Things became worse when we went back to class after break and everyone was complaining about stomach pains and diarrhoea.”

The emergency services were called and they were taken to the Tshikwarani Clinic and later transferred to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for treatment. “I thought I was going to die. I cannot understand why it happened this way, but someone will have to account for it. Although we received some treatment, we still suffer," said Ramovha.

The spokesperson for the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital, Mr Kutelani Sigidi, said that a high-level investigation about the incident had already started: "It is true that 28 learners of Madaheni Combined School were treated for stomach-related problems. They were treated and discharged. I cannot confirm or deny food poisoning, but we are investigating the incident,” said Sigidi.

The principal of the school, Mr John Malada, said he could not comment on the incident as the pupils ate food they had bought from a vendor outside the school premises.