Head injury: girl given pills, dies

LIMPOPO – Dimakatjo Diale (17) died days after suffering a blow to the head after a member of staff opened a window under which she was sitting on the outside of a classroom.

To add insult to injury, the family feels the hospital she was treated at, was negligent in their duties.

Dimakatjo’s uncle, Joseph Magongwa, told Bosveld in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, 19 June that the family is struggling to process the shock of her death and is saddened by how the situation is currently being handled by the school.

He furthermore says that Diale’s stay at Mokopane Hospital is a vivid and maddening memory.

The incident is thought to have happened on Monday, 28 May before Dimakatjo returned home from school.

“She told us she was sitting in the sun during break when the window was opened and bumped against her head.”

Three days later, she still seemed off-balance and kept complaining of a headache, he added.

“We took her to Mokopane Hospital and after an examination she was sent home with some tablets.” He said her health deterioriated from this point on.

“She lost her ability to speak, was confused and lost control of her movement.”

He took his niece back to the hospital and on Friday, 8 June he reported the incident at the Mahwelereng Police Station.

“When I visited her I found her with her hands tied above her head to the bed. I asked the nurse on duty why this was the case.

“The nurse explained to me that it is for her own protection.”

Dimakatjo passed away the following day. The cause of death was stated as ‘natural’.

Magongwa says the school is yet to pay respect to the family.

“The principal did not even come to apologise. I know an accident can happen easily. I don’t want to point fingers, but he could have come and see the family.”

Magongwa says the family tried to meet the principal, Willy Ramosedi Phasha at the school, but he refused.

“I am left with so many questions.”

Dimakatjo is said to have been a healthy teenager who enjoyed life, learning at school and socializing with friends, “the normal stuff teenagers enjoy doing”.

A somber Magongwa with his head in his hands concluded the interview with “we never thought that we will bury my niece under this circumstances”.

Col Moatshe Ngoepe, Spokesperson Limpopo SAPS, says an inquest was opened. “Our investigations are ongoing.”

The Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Sam Makonde, confirmed they are also looking into the matter, “we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to establish the exact picture.”

The Health Department had not responded to queries by the time of going to print.

The school’s principal declined to comment on the matter.

redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za