Gauteng Education Dept orders independent investigation into Pretoria pupil's drowning
Grade 7 pupil Latoya Temilton drowned at a school camp in Olifantsfontein, west of Joburg last Saturday. The pupil was on a leadership camp after being selected as a prefect last year.
Latoya Temilton. Picture: X/@womenforchange5
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has recommended an immediate independent investigation looking into the drowning of a 12-year-old girl from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria.
Grade 7 pupil Latoya Temilton drowned at a school camp in Olifantsfontein, west of Joburg last Saturday, 34 kilometres away from her school.
The pupil was on a leadership camp after being selected as a prefect last year.
Chiloane has expressed sadness over the incident, saying the independent investigation will run concurrently with another one by police.
Department spokesperson Xolani Mkhwemte: "The process of appointing an independent law firm is currently underway. The law firm will be introduced to the school management team and the learner’s family subsequent to their appointment. The school held a memorial service for the learner on Wednesday to commemorate and honour her life."
Meanwhile, Gauteng police said there had been no inquest launched yet into Temilton’s case.
Among the details that have been revealed is that at the time of the tragedy, the 12-year-old and her peers were swimming, allegedly unsupervised.
Other allegations surrounding the minor's death include that the school called on pupils and parents to remain mum about the incident.
Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo, confirmed to Eyewitness News that police were aware of the incident, however, given how recent it was, the docket may still be with a regional police station.
Masondo said they would look into the matter given its sensitive nature.
Laerskool Queenswood has not yet given any comment.