Gauteng Education Department Retracts Statement On Mpox Case

The Gauteng Education Department recently announced a confirmed case of monkeypox (mpox) at Iketleng Primary School in Hammanskraal.

The statement indicated that a grade one schoolgirl had tested positive for mpox earlier this week, based on information received from the school.

Shortly after the initial announcement, the department retracted the statement, acknowledging that it had breached government communications, testing, and verification protocols.

Spokesperson Steve Mabona explained, “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).”

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The department further emphasized the necessity for thorough testing and verification by the NICD and the DoH before making any public announcements about confirmed cases.

“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 final verification from the NICD. We apologize for any confusion or concern this may have caused,” Mabona added.

The Gauteng Education Department is now waiting for 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,” said Mabona.