Department spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, confirms they have in addition to this availed counselling services to teachers and learners at Amohelang Primary School - following the death of the 13-year-old girl, on the school premises, on Wednesday.

Education MEC, Tate Makgoe announced the death via his official twitter page last night. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports the cause of death remains unknown at this stage but it is expected that an autopsy will be performed.

Makgoe expressed his condolences adding “may God give her family, fellow schoolmates, teachers of Amohelang Primary School the courage and strength to pass this storm”. The name of the learner is yet to be made public.

The education MEC’s tweet drew some criticism from two twitter users who assumed the death was COVID-19 related. He stressed in response that the cause of death remains unknown at this stage.

The last time a primary school learner died under mysterious circumstances in the Free State was in March 2020. OFM News reported that tragedy struck Tsholetsang Primary School in March in Bloemfontein when eight-year-old learner, Relebohile Mokgadi, died after consuming a chocolate bar.

While the circumstances around the incident remained unclear then, Free State Education spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, said the deceased learner is reported to have suffered from what appeared to be an epileptic fit, after sharing the same chocolate bar with other learners. A team of investigators were dispatched to the school and worked hand-in-hand with the provincial health department to establish the cause of the death.

Six of Mokgadi’s fellow classmates were admitted to Bloemfontein's Pelonomi hospital after ingesting the same chocolate. It is yet to be determined what the current status of the police investigation into the incident is.

OFM News