Police spokesperson, Mahlomola Kareli, says despite the investigation on the culpable homicide, the suspect is not charged nor arrested, given the circumstances of the accident.

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The 13-year-old schoolboy, Solly Oliphant, from the Boaramelo Primary School, was hit by the truck, allegedly used by the Jagersfontein mine to remove the sludge following the dam disaster in September. Kareli says the pupil was declared dead on the scene.

"It is alleged that the 13-year-old male victim was playing behind a big water truck and walked out in front of a moving truck that was passing by and the truck ran him over. The driver never left the scene," Kareli adds.

The spokesperson of the Provincial Department of Education, Howard Ndaba, has since told OFM News that the department is saddened by the death of the learner.

"The incident took place at around 13:00. At the time of the incident, the learner was not at school. The deceased and four others were reportedly playing at a valley known as the Vlei, where mine workers were working to deal with the aftermath of the recent disaster.

"We express our condolences to the family, educators and learners of Boaramelo Primary School," Ndaba said.

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The death of the boy has since caused anger within the community, which was declared a disaster area in September after two people were killed, scores were injured and hundreds of residents displaced after over 100 homes were destroyed.

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One person is still missing as a result of the disaster.

The incident comes a few days after the 62-year-old Msokoli Khuthu was found dead in a pool of water between Charlesville and Itumeleng, known as Skoti. He went missing on Friday 21 October 2022 and was found the following day.
 
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According to Kareli, the police were alerted to the scene where Khuthu was found. He said members of Jagersfontein Crime Prevention were busy with crime prevention duties when a community member stopped their vehicle, indicating a body in the water. 

The emergency services were called to the scene and the victim was declared deceased.

OFM News