Limpopo - More than hundred residents protested outside the Polokwane high court in support of Michael Komape's family who is suing the department of education over poor sanitation which they say led to his death in 2014. Michael was in Grade 1 when he died after falling into a pit toilet at Mahlodumela Lower Primary School in Limpopo.
The family's legal representative, Advocate Vincent Maleka, said the family deserve special damages for all the pain they have suffered since Michael death.
"The family deserve special damages for all the pains they suffered. Michael mother, Rosina Komape was unable to go to work , due to the pains she was going through. The family suffered psychologically", said Maleka. The court heard that the family had to go through several counselling sessions as they were unable to cope without Michael.
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Maleka further said that they family is struggling to come to terms with what had happened to their son. "It is the state duty to protect learners at school and provide them with proper sanitation. The school governing body was concerned about the poor conditions of the toilets at the school since 2009 but the department did nothing, despite various protest by the local residents", said Maleka.
The legal representative also provided a list of people who will testify which includes, Michael parents, siblings and two of his friends who witnessed the incident when it happend in 2014 and informed the teachers.
According to Maleka, the family is currently seeing pschologists in order to prepare them to testify in court during the trial.