A case against three men who allegedly sold muffins laced with cannabis to school children in Pretoria has been postponed to February 28 for further investigation.
The accused appeared briefly in the Soshanguve magistrate’s court on Tuesday morning.
The trio – Amukelani Nyulunga, Ofentse Maluleka and Katlego Matlala – faces 43 charges including attempted murder and assault.
This after they allegedly sold the muffins for R2 to pupils at Pulamadibogo Primary School in Soshanguve.
The court heard that the men allegedly assaulted the children when they refused to consume the muffins.
In September, Gauteng education department spokesperson Steve Mabona said about 90 pupils from grade R to 7 consumed muffins bought from a street vendor on their way to school.
The learners started to experience nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting from allegedly consuming cookies.
The teachers who witnessed a strange behaviour from the learners immediately called for help and an emergency services crew arrived to attend to ailing pupils.
Muffins laced with narcotic substance
The pupils who were admitted to Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital have since been discharged from the healthcare facility.
Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority, said the muffins had a substance with a narcotic effect.
Mahanjana said Nyulunga and Maluleka were arrested on the same day of the incident and had been in custody since.
Matlala, who is also linked to the offence, handed himself over to police at a later stage.
It was reported in the media that the DA in the province said schools in Gauteng lack a functional vetting process for vendors.
The party called on school governing bodies and the community to work together to avoid such incidents from recurring.
“Gauteng schools lack a functional vetting process for vendors to ensure learners are sold safe, hygienic and healthy food,” said the DA.
The court is allowing the state to proceed with its investigation and the suspects have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
