By Doreen Mokgolo
Gauteng MEC of Education Matome Chiloane says that anyone found responsible for the deaths of two learners from Daveyton Skills School who drowned during a “discipline camp” will be dealt with.
Chiloane announced that Seanego Attorneys had been appointed to investigate the events leading to the deaths of Siphamandla Peterson, 17, and Sibusiso Sibiya, 15.
The teens drowned in the Hennops River last Monday during a four-day discipline camp held at Rock Falls Adventure in Centurion, Tshwane.
They were part of a group of 90 “troublesome” learners who were selected to attend the camp by their teachers.
“We are not saying the report will close the gap of a [dead] child, but we are hoping that details of what happened to the children will assist us in moving forward,” Chiloane said.
He said the Gauteng education department doesn’t host discipline camps or discipline learners but leaves that responsibility to parents.
“So far one teacher who is implicated in the matter has been served with a letter to respond to and has since responded through their lawyer. This is now a legal matter.
“We also understand that one of the two families has opened a criminal case. We will leave that to the police to investigate,” he said.
Thembekile Graham of Seanego Attorneys said the law firm was committed to investigating the incident thoroughly and would commence work on Monday, April 29.
“The report should be ready within seven days,” she said.
Sibusiso’s grieving mother, Khanyi Sibiya, said, she and her husband could not, unfortunately, sit through the MEC’s visit to announce the law firm as her husband collapsed and fainted at the meeting.
“At this point, I don’t know what is happening, nothing makes sense to me. I guess we will have another meeting with the MEC. We are just trying to find a way out of this for now.”
Pictured above: MEC Matome Chiloane and Thembekile Graham.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
