Forty-three learners from M.E Makgato Secondary School in Seshego were hospitalised after reporting stomach complaints, the Limpopo Department of Health confirmed on 16 October 2026.
Health department spokesperson Neil Shikwambana said the affected learners were admitted to four different hospitals: Seshego, Helen Franz, Botlokwa, and WF Knobel. Of those hospitalised, 13 learners remain under treatment at Seshego Hospital.
“The Department of Health in Limpopo says 43 learners from M.E Makgato Secondary School in Seshego have been taken to hospital complaining of runny stomachs,” Shikwambana said during a briefing.
These symptoms have raised concern in the local community, but the exact cause of the stomach complaints has not been officially confirmed. No independent verification beyond the Limpopo Department of Health’s statement has emerged, and there is no public information yet on whether food poisoning, water contamination, or another cause is responsible.
M.E Makgato Secondary is situated in Zone 4, Seshego, Limpopo, confirming the location of the incident. The department’s public health mandate includes monitoring and managing outbreaks, especially foodborne illnesses, but this particular case remains under investigation.
The school and parents await further updates on the learners’ conditions and the results of any medical or environmental tests conducted to determine the root cause.
Shikwambana added, “The learners were taken to Seshego, Helen Franz, Botlokwa and WF Knobel hospitals,” underscoring the coordinated response across local healthcare facilities.
No deaths have been reported, and it is unclear if all affected learners belong to the same grade or age group. The department has yet to confirm any direct link to school meals, water sources, or vendors.
The Limpopo Department of Health is expected to release further information as tests and investigations progress.