Staff Reporter

The Gauteng education department will appoint a law firm to investigate the collapse of a school wall that killed an 8-year-old learner at Lerutle Primary School in Daveyton, it said on Monday.

Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane announced the investigation during a visit to the family of Grade 3 learner Lwazi Motuse in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.

The department said the independent probe would seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collapse, in which five other learners were injured.

“We convey our sincerest condolences to the bereaved family. We remain committed to supporting the family and the entire Lerutle Primary School community during this deeply difficult time,” Chiloane said.

The department said it continued to provide psycho-social support to affected learners, teachers and the bereaved family. It confirmed that all other learners injured in the incident had since been discharged from hospital.

The wall collapse is the second fatal school incident this year to trigger an external investigation by Chiloane.

On 18 March, the MEC formally introduced a law firm to investigate the death of 10-year-old Milton Neo Mokgoatsane, a Grade 5 learner at Reagile Primary School in Winnie Mandela, Tembisa, after a goal post fell on him during break time in February.

INSIDE EDUCATION