PUPILS rushed to hospital after allegedly consuming rat poison.
Nine pupils from Joas Phahlela Primary School in Makuleke Village, Limpopo, were rushed to Malamulele Hospital after allegedly consuming rat poison on Wednesday, 4 February.
Limpopo Department of Education said only three of the nine pupils came into direct contact with the poison.
Education spokesman Mike Maringa told Daily Sun the pupils were discharged after they were kept in hospital for observation.
"We can confirm that some pupils were admitted to hospital after eating rat poison. They were kept overnight for observation and have since been discharged. Only three out of the nine pupils came into direct contact with the rat poison," he said.
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The Limpopo Department of Health also confirmed the incident.
Department spokesman Neil Shikwambana said the pupils were admitted to hospital after complaining of stomach pain.
"It's confirmed that the pupils were admitted to Malamulele Hospital after complaining of abdominal pain on suspicion they might have ingested a poisonous substance. They were treated, observed overnight and discharged the following day," he said.
Some concerned parents said the incident left them worried about their kids' safety.
"We fear for the lives of our kids. We wonder how rat poison ended up at the school," said one parent.
Another parent said they were relieved no lives were lost.
"We are grateful no one died because that would have been painful for us. We send kids to school to learn, not to be harmed," said the parent.
