Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade told News24 on Tuesday that the 16 learners escaped last week while the school was in the process of transporting learners to three quarantine sites.

He said they were part of a group of 105, who escaped from the school grounds.

"Some of these learners are coming from other provinces; we are busy working on collection of the data for them, so we can bring them back to the province for quarantine."

Gade said one of the boys was reportedly seen at a soccer tournament recently and is believed to have infected 12 boys.

Gade was speaking during a press briefing organised by Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane at the Bhisho Massacre Memorial site.

The group remains missing, and Gade said the education and health departments have launched a hunt for the pupils.

A total of 284 pupils of the school were tested, and 204 people, including staff, were confirmed to be Covid-19 positive, said Gade. 

"The implications are that one of the boys who ran away has infected 12 other boys in a tournament at a nearby village," he alleged.

News24