Ladysmith - A 12-year-old boy has been found dead in a container at the Inkanyezi Special School in Ladysmith, the KwaZulu-Natal education department said on Friday.
“He was reported missing on Wednesday by the school and the family when he did not return with the transport that takes him home,” said spokesman Muzi Mahlambi.
“They (the boy and his friends) were playing on Wednesday and he was found on Thursday. They (his friends) remembered the next day that there was someone there.”
It appeared the boy had been locked in the container.
Mahlambi said the boy's condition and that of his friends needed to be assessed in relation to what happened.
“This is a special school. We need to assess the boy's condition and that of his friends,” he said.
“We need to ascertain what kind of disability the boy and his friends have.”
He said the department wanted to stop speculation around the boy's death, with his funeral taking place this weekend.
“The police are investigating and we are waiting for a report from the school,” said Mahlambi.
“It's an undesirable thing. There is no parent who sends their child to school and doesn't expect to see them again. The department has sent its deepest condolences to the family.”
Sapa