Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced that a Grade 6 boy pupil from Refalotse Primary School in Winterveld, Tshwane died during a school trip.
The Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the incident that took place on Friday.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of one of our learners. We extend our deepest condolences to the learner’s family and the school community at large,” said Chiloane.
The department spokesperson Steve Mabona said according to information at their disposal, Grade 6 pupils, accompanied by teachers and some parents, travelled to a resort on Friday morning for a school trip.
On arrival, pupils were assembled for a formal ceremony and then had lunch. Mabona said that after lunch, the pupils changed into their swimwear to play at the swimming pools under the supervision of educators and parents.
“It is alleged that educators and parents were alerted by learners of a fellow learner who was unresponsive in one of the swimming pools. The educators are reported to have immediately removed the learner from the swimming pool and tried to resuscitate him while waiting for emergency services and police to respond,” Mabona said.
The pupil was certified dead by paramedics on their arrival.
The department confirmed that the police are investigating circumstances surrounding this incident.
The MEC will be visiting the school on Tuesday.
In 2020, the death of Parktown Boys’ High School Grade 8 pupil Enock Mpianzi sent waves of outrage across the country after Mpianzi drowned at Nyati Bush and River Break in the North West on the first day of school, during school camp.
In March 2020, a forensic report compiled by Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys found the school’s principal, Malcolm Williams, six teachers, the school and the GDE were all negligent in the teen’s death.
The Star