Gauteng Education Dept says it's making headway in preventing school excursion deaths
With schools set to reopen in less than a month, the Gauteng Education Department says it's making headway in preventing learner deaths following two tragic incidents this year.
A picture of Latoya Temilton at the Laerskool Queenswood. Picture: @EducationGP1/X
JOHANNESBURG - With schools set to reopen in less than a month, the Gauteng Education Department says it's making headway in preventing learner deaths following two tragic incidents this year.
An April, 15-year-old Siphamandla Peterson and 17-year-old Sibusiso Sibiya drowned while unsupervised during an unauthorised discipline camp in Centurion.
Investigations found their school principal grossly negligent for failing to obtain approval or ensure proper supervision during the excursion.
In a similar incident, 12-year-old Latoya Temilton drowned at a school camp in Witkoppen just 11 months ago.
A probe revealed that teachers from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria provided minimal supervision during the excursion.
Four teachers were later charged with gross negligence.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said that the department won't hesitate to take action against those responsible for endangering the lives of learners.
"We will keep acting, suspending people, dismissing people until everyone does what they're supposed to do and does right."
These incidents have sparked outrage and prompted calls for stricter safety measures on school outings.
Communities are demanding accountability and urgent changes to ensure such tragedies never happen again.