POLOKWANE – Two 15-year-old boys have been arrested on a charge of murder following the death of a 12-year-old learner at Grace and Hope Special School, in Seshego Zone 1, over the weekend.
The two boys appeared in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court yesterday, 8 April and will appear again today, 9 April.
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Limpopo MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe, has since expressed the department’s heartfelt and deepest condolences. “It is hard to comprehend something this tragic and no amount of words can describe this loss. It is hard for us a sector and obviously harder for the family, relatives and friends. In times like this, we need each other more than any other time. It is therefore important that we give each other the necessary support, especially the family,” he said.
In a statement released, the department’s spokesperson, Sam Makondo explains that teachers on duty were alerted to the tragedy by two learners who share a room with the deceased, who said the boy was no longer moving or breathing.
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“The teachers immediately called paramedics and police confirmed they couldn’t resuscitate the learner. This special school caters for learners with severe intellectual disabilities and senior officials of the department visited the school, wherein parents of the learner were called and were informed of the tragic incident,” Makondo said.
The department has since dispatched a team that will render psycho social support to learners, staff and affected family members at the school. Makondo says the counseling process, which has already started, will run throughout the week and they will be working with three social workers from the Department of Social Development.
Police spokesperson, Constable Maphure Manamela confirmed to Review that a case of murder has been opened and that further police investigations will tell if there were other suspects involved.
