Latest news with #Manana
The South African
4 days ago
- Health
- The South African
131 pupils treated for food poisoning at Eastern Cape school
Health officials treated about 131 pupils from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni for suspected food poisoning on Wednesday. According to the Eastern Cape Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services in Mthatha responded at about 1 pm after the school reported that several pupils had fallen ill. Emergency team transported the pupils to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital, and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre for medical care. Speaking with Newzroom Afrika , Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana described the incident as 'unfortunate'. She said pupils had experienced dizziness, vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures, and abdominal pain. 'All those symptoms point to suspected acute food poisoning. They ate rice and tinned fish, so we suspect this is the source. However, environmental health practitioners will confirm the exact cause,' said Manana. The Eastern Cape Department of Education has previously issued a memorandum warning schools about the risks of food poisoning. The memo urged schools to follow the revised guidelines of the National School Nutrition Programme and ensure compliance with food safety policies. The department instructed district offices to provide direct support to schools to prevent food contamination and food-borne diseases. The memorandum instructed principals and School Governing Bodies (SGBs) to accredit all vendors on school premises and ensure they meet required food preparation standards. 'Working together will ensure that pupils are safe and their consumption is monitored. The MEC also urged parents and schools to remain on high alert to prevent such incidents,' the department said at the time. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
70 Eastern Cape learners hospitalised after suspected food poisoning
About 70 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning. Image: FILE About 70 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning, the Eastern Cape Department of Health confirmed on Wednesday. Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the province's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded earlier in the day to the incident at the school. 'About 70 schoolchildren were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital, and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre,' said Manana. He added that the team dispatched both ambulances and a helicopter to assist the learners. 'Some of the learners were on intravenous drips, and those in serious condition were airlifted to the hospital,' he said. The incident comes amid growing concerns over food safety in South Africa. Last year, several provinces recorded outbreaks of food poisoning among schoolchildren, allegedly linked to contaminated food sold by street vendors. Last year, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi reported that 23 people, most of them children aged between six and nine, died after consuming food from informal shops. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged all spaza shops and food outlets to register with their local municipalities to help curb the rise in food-borne illnesses. IOL News previously reported that the Cabinet also moved to strengthen regulations. In June, it announced an immediate ban on the import of the toxic chemical rodenticide Terbufos, commonly known as 'halephirimi,' after it was allegedly linked to the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the decision followed a report by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Food-Borne Illnesses, supported by the Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC), chaired by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. 'The MAC, which comprises health experts from multiple disciplines, found that Terbufos, a highly hazardous chemical, was the likely cause of the children's deaths,' said Ntshavheni. The Department of Agriculture will lead public consultations on the Terbufos ban, in line with the government's 2010 strategy to phase out toxic pesticides and promote safer alternatives. Cape Times
IOL News
5 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Suspected food poisoning at Eastern Cape school leaves 70 learners in hospital
About 70 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning Image: pexels About 70 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni have been hospitalised following a suspected case of food poisoning, the Eastern Cape Department of Health confirmed on Wednesday. In a media statement, department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the province's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded earlier in the day to the incident at the school. 'About 70 schoolchildren were transported to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital, and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre,' said Manana, who is the department's Director of Communications. He added that the team dispatched both ambulances and a helicopter to assist the learners. 'Some of the learners were on intravenous drips, and those in serious condition were airlifted to the hospital,' he said. The incident comes amid growing concerns over food safety in South Africa. Last year, several provinces recorded outbreaks of food poisoning among schoolchildren, allegedly linked to contaminated food sold by street vendors. Gauteng was the province worst affected. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Last year, Premier Panyaza Lesufi reported that 23 people, most of them children aged between six and nine, died after consuming food from informal shops. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged all spaza shops and food outlets to register with their local municipalities to help curb the rise in food-borne illnesses. IOL News previously reported that the Cabinet also moved to strengthen regulations. In June, it announced an immediate ban on the import of the toxic chemical rodenticide Terbufos, commonly known as 'halephirimi,' after it was allegedly linked to the deaths of six children in Naledi, Soweto. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the decision followed a report by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Food-Borne Illnesses, supported by the Ministerial Advisory Council (MAC), chaired by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. 'The MAC, which comprises health experts from multiple disciplines, found that Terbufos, a highly hazardous chemical, was the likely cause of the children's deaths,' said Ntshavheni. While the exact circumstances of exposure remain under investigation, authorities believe the children may have consumed contaminated food purchased from a local spaza shop. The Department of Agriculture will lead public consultations on the Terbufos ban, in line with the government's 2010 strategy to phase out toxic pesticides and promote safer alternatives. IOL News
Eyewitness News
13-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Man (29) accused of raping 11-year-old girl denied bail
JOHANNESBURG - A 29-year-old man accused of the rape of an 11-year-old girl has been denied bail by the Boksburg Magistrates Court. Magistrate Sipho Manana delivered the verdict on Monday afternoon. The man was arrested last month after the child's family discovered that she had been violated and impregnated, allegedly by the man who is a family friend. Applause erupted from a public gallery packed with the victim's supporters from the Ugandan community when Magistrate Manana denied the accused bail. ALSO READ: The court found that the accused failed to prove exceptional circumstances for his release. This was a requirement for his bail in light of the seriousness of the offence. 'The state in this case is not obliged to produce evidence in the true sense. It is enough that the prosecutor has established the presence of a prima facie case against the applicant, which the applicant did not dispute or contradict.' Dressed in a grey Chicago Bulls basketball team hoody with a fresh-looking haircut, the confident-looking accused muttered, 'Thank you, your worship', before making his way back to the holding cells.
The Citizen
30-04-2025
- The Citizen
Eleven SASSA R260m fraud accused to remain behind bars
The case, which first made headlines in 2024, has faced multiple postponements. Five Sassa employees appear at the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, south of Johannesburg, for fraud. 17 March 2025. Picture : Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen The 11 accused in the R260 million South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) fraud case will remain behind bars after their court appearance on Wednesday. The accused fraudsters were back in the Lenasia Magistrate's Court, south of Johannesburg, to continue their bail application. Bail application National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the bail application was postponed to 10 and 11 June 2025 to allow the court to hear additional evidence in order to make a decision on the applications submitted by the eleven accused individuals. The case, which first made headlines in 2024, has faced multiple postponements. ALSO READ: Defence alleges witness interference in Sassa fraud case Supporting evidence During court proceedings on Wednesday, the state submitted affidavits from the investigating officer, Constable Manana and two affidavits from Mazimela Kubeka, a senior internal investigator within Sassa with information on how the accused were implicated in the alleged offences. Mjonondwane said the court requested additional supporting evidence from the state, including a movement report from the Department of Home Affairs detailing Ethiopian Abenezer Tilahyn's (the fourth accused) movements in and out of South Africa. 'The court also requires information about two dockets mentioned in Constable Manana's affidavit, which allegedly link some of the accused. This evidence will inform the court's decision.' Magistrate Maggie van der Merwe ruled that there is sufficient evidence against the accused to warrant further detention. ALSO READ: 70-year-old Sassa fraudster who stole R100 000 will soon be on trial Witness tampering Earlier this month, the defence attorneys representing the Sassa employees alleged potential witness interference during the bail hearing, claiming a Sassa official had visited their clients in prison to ask them to sign documents. 'The defence asks if the state is aware that some of their witnesses are interfering with the accused. They say a Sassa official visited their clients in prison yesterday to ask them to sign documents,' the defence counsel told the court. However, state prosecutors dismissed the allegations of witness interference, stating that the prison visit by Sassa officials was related to internal disciplinary processes rather than the criminal case. Some accused previously arrested The 11, who include eight Sassa officials, are facing multiple charges, including cybercrime, fraud and theft. Some of the accused who had been previously arrested include Shumani Khwerana, Nkhensani Sharon Maluleke, Tshilidzi Ramaphosa and Tilahyn. The state alleges that the accused are alleged to have orchestrated a sophisticated scheme involving the creation of fake Sassa profiles wherein more than R4 million was allegedly deposited. These profiles were allegedly used to withdraw large sums of money from various Sassa pay points. ALSO READ: Sassa millions 'heist' in Rosebank underground car park .
