LIMPOPO – Gr 8 learner, Thabo Moagi succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Tuesday, 25 February after a bookshelf fell on top of him at the Phala Secondary School in Broekman village.
The deceased together with three fellow classmates were unpacking and sorting books in their LTSM resource classroom earlier the morning when the incident occurred. Three of the learners were injured and the school called the emergency services, who upon arrival, rushed them to the Helen Franz hospital.
Education MEC, Polly Boshielo said in a statement that one of the learners was checked and discharged from the hospital and the other two were transferred to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital where one learner succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening. The other learner is still under medical supervision in Polokwane, she added.
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“The department is deeply saddened by this tragic incident and would like to convey our deepest condolences to the family and the school during this difficult time.”
The MEC further wished a speedy recovery to the injured learner. A psycho-social team will provide trauma counselling to the learners, educators, support staff and the bereaved family.
Jacques Smalle, DA Spokesperson on Education in Limpopo, has also conveyed his condolences to the Moagi family after the tragic loss of their son and wished a speedy recovery to the injured learner.
Smalle stated that the party is concerned about the lack of safety inside the building where the incident occurred and has requested Boshielo to investigate.
The DA will conduct an oversight visit at the school to ascertain for themselves what the conditions are that caused this tragedy, Smalle concluded.
