Education Department describe Noordwyk learner’s disappearance as an ‘unfortunate incident’

Following the Noordwyk Primary School’s Grade R learner’s five-hour disappearance, the Gauteng Department of Education responded to the paper’s media inquiry.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said they can confirm that they are aware of the ‘unfortunate incident’.
“A learner at the above-mentioned school was seen roaming around the street after school hours on January 19. Information at our disposal reveals that the learner was picked up late by his transport driver from school. Consequently, the principal was alerted and then sent out an alert message to all parents through the connect system to be on the lookout for by parents of the school,” said Mabona in a brief statement.

He said, fortunately, one of the parents immediately responded that she had found the child and that he could be fetched from her.

In an article, ‘Bogus scholar transport results in Grade R learner’s 5-hour disappearance,’ [Week ending 9 February], the mother of the 5-year-old boy said she was terrified of what might happen to her son.

The woman, who requested to be identified only as Chriselda has said, the alleged bogus scholar transport was nowhere to be found during the search.

The learner was found 4.5km away from the school at the shopping complex by a parent who saw the message on the school’s D6 Connect – a formal communication channel for all the parents whose children attend the school.

“The child was later reunited with his mother and the mother was advised to find a better transport for her son,” concluded Mabona.

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