Independent law firm appointed to seek justice for deceased Tsakani learner
The preliminary investigation indicated Nhlanhla died from head injuries.
Tsakani – Diale Attorneys, an independent law firm, has been appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Nhlanhla Shabalala.
The Grade 10 learner from Reshogofaditswe Secondary School died after he was assaulted with a golf club by a teacher and general worker at Tsakani Secondary School.
Armed with a toy gun, the learner had gone to the school to demand the cellphone and backpack he was stripped of the previous day during a scuffle over him dating a girl from the school.
He later started vomiting blood and died at Pholosong Hospital.
The preliminary investigation indicated he died from head injuries. In a video that had since gone viral on social media, the two men, who were identified as the teacher and general worker, can be seen man-handling the learner.
Also read: Learner dies after being assaulted by teacher and caretaker
Director of legal services at the Department of Education Nombedesho Ngcobozi said the investigation will provide the family and department with answers as to the circumstances that led to his death.
“The law firm is expected to furnish the MEC with a report five days after the school re-opens,” she said.
Ngcobozi added that in the absence of evidence, suspending those implicated would have implications.
The department will follow the recommendations from the law firm to hold those implicated accountable.
Family spokesperson Mamokete Shabalala said this is a step forward to establish what happened to their child and hold those responsible accountable.
“We are sure the post-mortem report will also help clarify the questions we still have,” said Shabalala.
She added it is heart-breaking to see the suspects still at work while the preliminary investigations prove that Nhlanhla died from head injuries he sustained during the scuffle.
“These people are going on with their lives while we have lost our child. We were hoping the department would at least suspend them while the process unfolds.
“We don’t trust the suspects to be fit to be working with children,” she added.
Tsakani police spokesperson Sgt Lerato Mngomezulu confirmed an inquest docket has been opened regarding Nhlanhla’s death.
“We are still waiting for the post-mortem report,” she explained.
Follow us on: 
