Burn victim afraid to return to school
SCH Local News | The Grade 4 learner's mother, Xolisile Luthuli, said she received a call from the school principal informing her that her son had been burnt and that she had to come to school urgently.
Sandisosethu Luthuli (9), who suffered severe burns on his face at KwaBangibizo Primary in Mtwalume recently, has not returned to school since last term.
The Department of Education was contacted for comment on the incident several weeks ago. However, none was received, instead, the spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, told the Herald to ‘go ahead and publish’.
The learner’s aunt, Nompumelelo Luthuli, said the youngster is traumatised and afraid to go back to his old school.
When contacted last Wednesday, she said she was on her way to look for a new school as Sandisosethu is missing out on so much.
“The school has offered to bring his work home, but the problem is who is going to help him with it.”
The Luthuli family is furious because of what happened to their son.
The Grade 4 learner’s mother, Xolisile Luthuli, said she received a call from the school principal informing her that her son had been burnt and that she had to come to school urgently.
She said when she got to the school, he had been taken to a nearby clinic for treatment. She was told that he had been burnt by boiling water in the teachers’ staffroom.
“I could not handle the situation, so I phoned my older sister to come and help me.”
The boy’s aunt said when she got to the hospital, as he had been transferred, she requested to be his guardian because her sister has a baby whom she is breastfeeding and had to return home.
She said she then spoke to her nephew and found out that he had been burnt with hot water from his teacher’s car.
“The teacher opened the bonnet and asked him to open a cap, and the hot water burnt him on his face.”
Sandisosethu’s left eye has been affected, and he also has an eye infection.
The family has opened a case with the police and has also reported it to the Department of Education, but is yet to receive a response.
KZN police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed the case.
“Hibberdene police are investigating a case of assault after an incident in which a nine year old child was allegedly burnt by water on the face at a business premises on March 7.”
According to the mother, her son has to use special creams for his face, which she cannot afford.
“He is not a normal child anymore. I have to keep him indoors to protect his face and eye as I am still trying to get help to fix his eye.”
The family said they will not back down until their son gets justice.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
