The Evaton community has been left devastated by the death of three learners who lost their lives at the Evaton Primary School on Monday.
The learners, said to be related, allegedly died at school after eating pap, milk and biscuits at home.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Matome Chiloane sent his condolences to the bereaved families. He said according to the latest information, the pupils had fallen ill shortly after 8am on Monday.
“According to the information at our disposal, the incident happened at around 8:00 in the morning when a Grade 4 class brought a sick boy learner to the sick bay. Despite immediate assistance, the learner was unresponsive. Emergency services and the learner’s mother were swiftly called.
“In a distressing turn of events, the learner’s sibling, a Grade 3 learner, was also brought to the sick bay and mentioned that they had eaten pap, milk and biscuits at home. The learner soon became unresponsive as well. A third sibling, a Grade 5 girl learner, was also found to be unresponsive. All the three learners were rushed to a nearby clinic where, tragically, they were declared dead,” the MEC said in a statement.
According to the local police, an inquest has been opened and the deaths are being investigated by the Evaton police.
Police spokesperson, Constable Thulisile Msibi, told a local publication that at around 07:10 in the morning, the deceased siblings, a 10-year-old boy, his 11-year-old sister and their cousin an 8-year-old girl, left their grandmother’s place to go to school.
“At around 08:00, the mother of the two siblings was called to the school after being informed that the children had collapsed. Upon her arrival, she discovered that all three children were not well,” Msibi said.
The children were then taken to the Levai Mbatha Clinic in Evaton by ambulance, but were declared dead on arrival.
In another incident also on Monday, a Tsakane Secondary School learner died, reportedly during school hours after two Grade 8 learners ingested rat poison.
“One of the learners collapsed and had to be carried to the school’s administration block, while the other, though visibly weak, managed to walk there,” the MEC’s office added.
Spokesperson for the department, Steve Mabona, said the MEC iwas deeply saddened by the two tragic incidents and urged learners to seek help from the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) if they were troubled.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of these young lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and school communities affected by by these devastating incidents,” said Mabona.
The Star