The Gauteng Department of Education has retracted a statement claiming that a Mpox case has been reported from a Grade 1 girl learner from Iketleng Primary School in Hammanskraal.

ACTED PREMATURELY

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said it has come to their attention that the results concerning the suspected monkey pox 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. Mabona said their 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," he said.

THE DEPARTMENT APOLOGISING

Mabona said the department 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 priorities, and we will continue to collaborate closely with health authorities to provide accurate information and appropriate guidance," said Mabona.