Seven students from Bongucele Secondary School in uMthwalume were treated for a diet-related illness on Wednesday after buying chips from a spaza shop.

Six students were released from the hospital. A pregnant learner is still under medical care.

A circular issued by the head of the department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, provided guidelines on how principals and school governing bodies can prioritize student safety.

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It applies to snack sellers on school grounds and in nearby stores.

Measures include registering a manageable number of vendors, regular commitments on cleanliness and the importance of selling healthy snacks.

Food products should be purchased from credible retailers.

The education also states that regular inspections should be conducted to avoid selling expired food.

The ministry believes these controls will reduce the growing number of food poisoning cases in the province.

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