One of South Africa’s most revered, self-taught chef and influential food stylist, popularly known as ‘Fikz the Cook‘, has added her voice to the shocking incidents of food poisoning affecting school children across the country.
Fikz – real name Fikile Zungu – has accused the South African government, particularly President Cyril Ramaphosa, of failing to take the necessary measures to prevent the recent cases of children being exposed to food that is not safe for consumption.
This follows another case of a foodborne illness that broke out on Thursday morning at Mshuluzane Mayisela Primary School in Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit.
About 25 learners reportedly fell ill after allegedly consuming snacks purchased from street vendors outside the school.
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The learners began showing symptoms of body itching and stomach pains, approximately 30 minutes after consuming the snacks. They were transported to medical facilities for treatment.
“They are killing innocent children in South Africa by food poisoning. WHO [World Health Organisation] and our government is not acting on it,” Fikz said on X.
“Our President [Ramaphosa] during voting campaigns he went to those spaza shops who sells untested products to encourage them to vote and to keep selling their poisonous products… We have the video of him doing that,” she added.
The Gauteng Department of Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, said out of the 25 learners who were affected by the food poisoning incident, 22 have since been discharged after receiving treatment.
Law enforcement and health authorities are conducting an investigation into the incident to determine the safety of the products being sold by the street vendors, the department stated.
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