Community saddened by the passing of siblings from Kumalo Primary School

The Katlehong family of three young siblings have been left reeling after the death of two and the hospitalisation of the third, reportedly from food poisoning.

The 10 and seven-year-old boys, who attended Kumalo Primary School, were rushed to a local clinic on Tuesday after they began to complain about stomach cramps and being nauseous.

When a teacher from the school visited the boys’ home to inform their parents of their condition they noticed their younger sibling, who is five years old, was complaining of similar symptoms.

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He was also rushed to the clinic and then transferred to Thelle Mogoerane Hospital for urgent medical treatment.

He is in a critical but stable condition.

Tragically the elder siblings’ conditions deteriorated rapidly and they were declared dead upon arrival at the clinic.

“The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is deeply saddened by a tragic incident which resulted in the death of two boys,” said GDE spokesperson, Steve Mabona.

“The department’s Psychosocial Unit has been dispatched to the school to provide counselling and pastoral care to the family of the deceased, as well as the school and community.

“We will focus on the forensic investigation the department will be conducting, just to understand the cause of the incident.”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi immediately appointed an independent team to establish the cause of the deaths and collect all available statements from the school and the parents.

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“On behalf of the entire education fraternity in Gauteng, we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased learners and wish them peace and comfort during this difficult time.

“We hope the family will find comfort in the knowledge that we too share their loss.

“No words are enough to express our sorrow over the loss of the children,” said Lesufi.

Lesufi has since visited the school and family of the deceased.

Police from the Katlehong North Police Station have also launched an investigation.