Panic as pupils collapse at Old Naledi

Sharon Mathala | Monday October 6, 2014 06:59

 

Pupils started fainting one by one on Thursday before the situation escalated on Friday, resulting in scores of parents rushing to the school and demanding to take their children home. 

At least four children fainted and two fell ill on Friday at Tswaraganyo Primary School in Old Naledi. A school official has said all are out of danger after receiving medical attention.

The incident worsened at around 10am. When The Monitor crew arrived at the school, two ambulances were parked at the front of the primary school’s staffroom, with two pupils inside each ambulance tightly tied to a stretcher being attended to by paramedics.

On the other end were furious and concerned parents and guardians demanding to take their children home, so they could closely monitor them. 

“All I want is to take my child home, you guys are not telling us what might have started all of this, what if my child is next?” shouted one parent.

Addressing the group, was a man who identified himself as the Principal Education Officer, Alex Olekantse, who said the school could not release any student at the time because health officials had to watch over them.

“We do not yet know what could have caused the students to faint and or fall ill, but we cannot release anyone at the moment. The school management and health officers are still hard at work to help calm the situation,” he said. 

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by another parent who yelled, 

“This same scenario also happened last year, why does this always happen at the same school? Why are we not being told what the cause is? It started with three kids affected and the numbers have shot up, what if my child is next?” she fumed. 

The school’s headmaster, Spankie Kelopang, said the cases affected a group from the Standard Sevens, and one Standard Six student.

“The cases were reported to us yesterday, (Thursday) today in the morning another four students also fell sick with some fainting,” she said. 

“They are between the ages of 12 and 13, we have not yet been told what could be the problem but the doctors are suggesting anxiety,” she added. 

One parent who chose to speak on condition of anonymity, told The Monitor that they had heard that the cases began in the morning. 

“I was at work when I received a message to say more kids have been affected. We do not know if it is food poisoning or something they drank. 

“All we want is to take our kids home, because clearly no one knows what is happening,” he said.