The North West Education Department’s spokesperson, Elias Malindi, says this is according to the preliminary report following the boy’s drowning in a sewer outside the Sejankabo Secondary School yard at Mocoseng Village in Mahikeng on Sunday. It is yet to be determined how the child fell into the sewer, but a premlininary report by the school points the finger to criminal activity in the area.

According to the report, criminals in the area often steal sewage drain lids and sell them to the highest bidder. The school indicated that every time they replace the lid, criminals steal it and sell it on the street. Thus implying the sewer may have not been closed at the time of the incident. This is yet to be corroborated by local police. 

The North West Education MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela, has expressed shock at the incident, adding they never anticipated that such an incident would occur during lockdown when learners are not attending school.

In late December 2019, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein awarded the family of Michael Komape R1.4-million in damages for emotional shock and grief, after the five-year-old fell into a pit latrine at his school in Chebeng Village in Limpopo and drowned in 2014. Komape’s tragic death garnered nationwide attention and calls for the government to do more to keep children like Komape safe.

OFM News