Zuko Komisa

“We may have acted prematurely” – Mpox case in Gauteng public school not true.
The Department of Education had earlier announced that on Monday, a Grade 1 girl student from Iketleng Primary School in Hammanskraal received a diagnosis of Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Her parents informed the school on Tuesday that their daughter had been hospitalized after showing signs of the illness.
According to Steve Mabona, a spokesman for Gauteng Education, the initial statement was predicated on the school’s formal letter. The Department says they will keep collaborating with health authorities to offer precise data and pertinent advice.
“The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) wishes to retract the statement issued earlier today regarding the confirmation of the first monkeypox case at Iketleng Primary School in Hammanskraal. It has come to our attention that the results concerning the suspected monkeypox case must first be verified by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the Department of Health (DoH).
We acknowledge that the announcement of any confirmed cases should be made by the NICD and the DoH following thorough testing and verification. Our initial statement was based on official correspondence received from the school. However, it appears that we may have acted prematurely in confirming the case without awaiting the final verification from the NICD. We apologise for any confusion or concern this may have caused. The GDE is committed to ensuring accurate and verified information is communicated to the public.
We are now awaiting the official verification from the NICD and will defer to the Department of Health for any further announcements on this matter. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our school communities as we work through this situation. The health and safety of our learners and staff remain our highest priority, and we will continue to collaborate closely with health authorities to provide accurate information and appropriate guidance.”
Department of Education Gauteng
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