By: Natasha Archary
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to implement stricter safety measures to ensure the safety of learners during school outings.
This after two boys drowned near Centurion on Monday, 15 April whilst on a school excursion and allegedly whilst partaking in water activities.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education, one of boys from Daveyton Skills School in Benoni allegedly ran to the Hennops River after the activities had ended and the second boy followed him.
It is further alleged that the learner who ran off, jumped into the river, prompting the second boy to try and rescue him, resulting in both drowning as a result.
Sergio Isa Dos Santos, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education said more needs to be done to ensure that these tragic incidents stop happening.
This incident comes on the heels of many tragic events that have occurred since the beginning of the 2024 academic year, raising serious concerns about the safety of learners inside and outside our schools in the province.
The string of incidents includes:
- On 20 January 2024, a Grade 7 learner at Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria allegedly drowned during a school excursion.
- On 1 February 2024, a Grade 6 learner from Modiselle Primaasry School in Ga-Rankuwa, north of Tshwane, passed away after allegedly falling off a moving scholar transport bus.
- On 6 February 2024, a Grade 1 girl learner from Mandlethu Primary School in Tsakane, Brakpan, passed away after allegedly consuming biscuits bought from a local spaza shop.
- On 7 February 2024, a Grade 8 boy learner from Oakdale Secondary School in Ennerdale, South of Johannesburg, died after being stabbed in a fight with another Grade 10 boy learner, who was also involved in the stabbing incident.
- On 16 February 2024, a 13-year-old learner from Primrose Primary School shot and injured the school principal.
- On 29 March 2024, a scholar transport carrying learners from Sandringham High School collided with another vehicle in Alexandra, resulting in six learners sustaining injuries.
- On 9 April 2024, a shooting incident occurred outside Primrose High School in Ekurhuleni, causing panic among pupils and teachers.
Dos Santos says the GPG is to blame for all of the above unfortunate events because it has failed to learn anything from similar cases in the past and ignored calls for the implementation of stringent measures for learners and, by extension, teachers and staff.
The DA demands a coordinated intervention approach including all three departments and other key stakeholders to address the terrible situations that have resulted in the deaths, injuries, and trauma of learners.
