DURBAN - WEMBLEY Primary School in Phoenix is expected to re-open on Wednesday following the death of Grade 7 pupil Katelyn Pillay due to Covid-19.
The school has been undergoing deep cleansing according to the school governing body (SGB) chairperson Sunil Mathura. On Monday morning the SGB met with parents to choose six people to represent the school.
A decision was made, after discussions, to give parents options when the school re-opens. Those who do not want to send their children can collect learning packs from the school. These packs must be brought back to the school for marking.
News of Katelyn’s death was widely circulated on social media. She would have turned 13 on September 7.
Two weeks ago, Shanika Balsarang, a Grade 4 pupil at Acaciavale Primary School in Ladysmith, died from Covid-19 complications.
Mathura said the school knew of Katelyn’s death on Saturday, adding that her funeral was on Sunday. He said pupils and teachers at the school were traumatised after Katelyn’s death.
“I know that the principal is working on getting counselling for teachers and pupils.”
Katelyn’s mother, Karishma Pillay, said her daughter died while seated on their couch holding her hand. She said her daughter had breathing complications.
She explained that Katelyn had gone to school on Friday, August 6, and became ill at the weekend.
Pillay said that last Tuesday they took her daughter to the doctor, who gave her a jab and medication. She added that on Wednesday, Katelyn’s Covid-19 test returned positive.
She said the following day, August 12, they had to rush Katelyn to a clinic in unit 10, Phoenix because she was struggling to breathe.
“She was treated and seemed okay. We were advised to take her to Clairwood Hospital, but Katelyn wanted to go home and said she would be fine.
“When we got home I bathed her, fed her and put her to bed.
“On Saturday, she indicated that she could not breathe. While my husband was rushing home to transport us to the hospital, she was sat next to me on the sofa. She held on to my hand.
“She told me, ‘Mommy I can’t do it’. I told her to fight, her father would be arriving soon.
“The next moment she closed her eyes.”
Daily News