The MEC of Education in the Gauteng Province, Panyaza Lesufi has today sent his condolences to families of three learners who sadly lost their lives this past week.
Today, 08 September 2021 MEC Lesufi and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) learnt of the sad passing of a Grade 10 boy learner from Emadwaleni Secondary School in Soweto.
MEC Lesufi said according to initial reports, the boy learner allegedly hung himself after quarrelling with his parents. The report also includes that his body was found next to a park near his home and was removed from the scene by the Gauteng Pathology Services.
“South African Police Service continues to investigate circumstances surrounding this case,” MEC Lesufi said.
“The GDE was also devastated to receive news of the death of a Grade 11 boy learner from Clapham High School in Pretoria who also passed on Tuesday, 7 September 2021,” added MEC Lesufi.
Lesufi says it is reported that the learner passed away after allegedly falling sick on the school grounds while he was playing soccer during the Physical Training period.
“His parents were informed about his condition and an ambulance was immediately called to the school. Unfortunately, the learner passed on at Muelmed Hospital in Arcadia Pretoria later in the evening,” he adds.
Furthermore, he added that today they received moregloomy news as it was confirmed that a Grade 7 boy from P S Fourie Primary School in Eesterus has passed away.
MEC Lesufi says according to the reports, the boy allegedly died in a result of suicide and he has not been attending classes since the beginning of Term 3 which started on 26 July 2021.
“Our Psycho-Social Unit continues to provide support to the families and fellow classmates of the learners who passed away,” he said.
He mentioned that they are deeply saddened by these untimely deaths and wish to convey their condolences to all the families who lost their children in these three different incidents.
“We mourn with the families, friends, teachers and fellow learners of these learners. There are no adequate words to express our sorrow at the lost of a child. We hope that the families will find comfort in the knowledge that we, too, share their loss,” concluded MEC Lesufi.
