By Zukile Majova
Learners and teachers at Hyde Park Secondary School in Johannesburg made a gruesome find when arriving at school on Wednesday – a Grade 12 teacher allegedly hanging dead in the sports ground.
Paramedics were immediately called but certified him dead at the scene. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident comes a day after a Grade 11 schoolboy from Jeppe High School for Boys in Johannesburg died on Tuesday after a rugby match with Hoërskool Die Anker in Brakpan.
The pupil was allegedly not feeling well after the match.
Paramedics on site tried to stabilise him and contacted an ambulance for further medical assistance.
Unfortunately, the learner died shortly after the ambulance arrived.
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane said: “We are deeply disheartened by these tragic incidents and wish to extend our most sincere condolences to the families of the departed, as well as their respective school communities.”
He said the Gauteng Education Department had sent its psycho-social support unit to both schools to conduct trauma counselling and support learners.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group has also volunteered its experts to assist the affected schools.
These two deaths are the latest in a string of incidents in the province’s schools since the start of the year.
- 16 February – a Grade 6 learner from Primrose Primary School in Germiston shot the principal, who later said he survived by pretending to be dead.
- 8 February – a Grade 8 boy was stabbed to death outside his Oakdale Secondary School in Ennerdale, Johannesburg.
- 6 February – a Grade 1 girl from Mandlethu Primary School in Tsakane, Brakpan, died after allegedly eating contaminated biscuits from a local spaza shop.
- 1 February – A Grade 6 boy from Modiselle Primary School in Ga-Rankuwa died after falling from a scholar transport bus that accidentally ran him over.
- 29 January – 75 learners from Lehae Primary School, Olifantsvlei Primary School, Moses Marne Missions Technical School and Elethu Themba Public School ran for cover as unknown gunmen shot three people, killing two, during a charity event to give school shoes to poor learners. The ward councillor is among the dead.
- 20 January – a Grade 7 girl from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria drowned during a school excursion.
Pictured above: Primrose Primary School, where the principal was shot by a Grade 6 learner.
Source: X
