'Space cakes' wreak havoc at Gauteng schools

A parent whose child is among 11 pupils from Randfontein High School who fell sick after eating space muffins has claimed the children bought the cakes thinking they were supporting their classmate who wanted to buy a jacket for his matric dance. 

The mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her 17-year-old son, said she received a call at 1.50pm on Thursday, informing her that children were collapsing at the school and some had been taken to hospital.

“On my way there, I almost [had] an accident. I was crying because I did not know what condition my son was in. It was traumatic.

“When I arrived there, his eyes were red and swollen. He was also feeling dizzy. I took him to Lenmed [Randfontein Private] Hospital, where he was admitted and discharged yesterday [Saturday]. Some of the children were in ICU. On my son, doctors told me that test revealed it was cannabis,” she said.

She told Sowetan that after returning from hospital, her son informed her that a Grade 12 pupil came to the school with the cakes and told them that he was selling them to raise funds for a matric jacket, asking for their support.

“What we don’t understand is that how did it happen because selling at the school is not allowed. They are learners. They supported the child because they were understanding of his situation. The cakes were R10 each.

“What I want to know is why the school only called me just before 2pm when the incident happened earlier,” the mother said.

She said her son informed her that as schoolmates they had no suspicion that there was something wrong with the cakes.

School principal Amy Appelcryn said in an incident report which Sowetan has seen that they only learnt something was wrong when one of the pupils who had consumed the cakes went to the office alerting staff that he was not feeling well.

Just as the pupil spoke to the staff, he collapsed, prompting teachers to rush and verify who were the other pupils who had consumed the cakes, she said in the report. "They (head of discipline and his team) found numerous Grade 12 learners who started feeling ill and eventually found the seller. He initially lied to us but eventually the truth came out. His father was contacted and came to school.

"He [ the pupil in a meeting where his father was present] still avoided the truth, but we at least got some information – he bakes these space cakes at a friend’s house in Finsbury and sells them at school...

"All learners knew exactly what they were eating They were all aware that this learner is selling. The code of conduct of this school is very clear about selling anything on the premises and about not reporting questionable activities."

But the mother disputed that the children could have consumed the cakes knowing what was inside.

"I don't believe that. Do you think if the children knew that what they were eating could harm them they would have gone ahead and bought it?

"I think the principal is just trying to throw our children under the bus," she said.

Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said there were two incidents of space muffins last week, on Thursday at Randfontein High and also at Mamellong Secondary School in Tsakane on the East Rand on Saturday.

Lesufi said the Grade 12 pupil who brought the cakes to the Randfontein school is now facing suspension.

He said two of the 11 pupils at the school went home while nine pupil were hospitalised, one of whom was in a critical condition but is now stable.

Lesufi said in the other incident Grade 12 pupils in Mamellong were also alleged to have purchased space cakes on their way to tuition classes, which they consumed and were eventually hospitalised.

“We are really concerned and dissatisfied at the ongoing consumption of these space cakes where learners become sick and are often hospitalised. We urge learners to refrain from purchasing or consuming unknown substances that put their health and lives at risk.

"The conditions of these learners is being closely monitored to ensure their speedy recovery and safe return to their families,” said Lesufi.

Randfontein High School parents are expected to go to the school on Monday to get more information regarding the incident.