Zelda Venter
Gauteng’s Education MEC has been ordered to pay R2 million to the mother of a teenager who lost his eye when, during break at school, he fell on a wooden fence erected near the playground.
The mother, who cannot be identified to protect her now 14-year-old son, instituted the damages claim in the high court in Pretoria.
The boy was nine when then incident occurred on January 28, 2010, on the grounds of a primary school in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
The mother blamed the school as she stated it happened during the course of school activities.
She said the education officials and teachers were negligent as they erected a low wooden fence on the playground while knowing that pupils using the playground could injure themselves.
Her child was fitted with a prosthesis as his eye was so badly injured it had to be removed. He will have to undergo further medical treatment.
The MEC initially denied liability. It was admitted that the boy got hurt when he fell, but officials said it was not due to a low wooden fence. Liability was later admitted.
According to experts, the loss of the child’s eye caused him emotional anguish and he suffered from mild depression. His options for future employment are also limited.
The boy is very self-aware and does not want to take his eye out to clean it. He is also more shy and withdrawn.