MALEKUTU – The parents of a grade R learner of Malekutu Primary School are livid after their child fell into a pit toilet.
According to them, teachers took too long to find the pupil and had since not been supportive.
“Our child tumbled into the lavatory during break time and was only found after school.
What were the teachers thinking after noticing that the child never returned to class?” Mr Vusi Mashinini questioned.
He further stated that the school did not even bother to take the six-year-old to the hospital and according to him, the child needed medical attention.
“After picking him up from school, we rushed him to the clinic where he was checked and sent home.
Around dawn the following morning his tummy started swelling and we called a private doctor who gave him injections and some ointment for the treatment of skin irritation,” added Vusi.
What irked the parents even more was that even when the child was absent from school, no one called to check on him.
The child’s mother, Ms Nonhle Mashinini claimed that one of the teachers made a comment that they were not responsible for the incident, hence they were not showing any concern.
Mpumalanga News contacted the principal, Mr Timothy Lekhuleni who agreed that they did not do any follow up, but took care of the child after they found him.
He further refuted claims that the child was stuck inside the pit until school was out.
“The child fell after school and was instantly rescued even before he got deep into the waste.
He was just stuck next to the seat because it appears as if he didn’t sit on the toilet seat, but stood.
Teachers immediately gave him a bath and clothes to change after calling the parents,” added Lekhuleni.
The parents were also concerned that since the teachers were not showing concern, it will be easy for other learners to make fun of their child.
“All we desire is for the school to show concern and support our traumatised child,” concluded the father.
