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A Grade 10 and a Grade 12 pupil from Hoërskool Birchleigh in Gauteng have drowned during a school trip to the beach in Durban on Sunday.
According to a statement released by the Gauteng Education Department, the school was in Durban from Thursday, where pupils were participating in a rugby tournament and were scheduled to return on Thursday.
“On Sunday morning, the learners and several teachers went swimming at Durban North Beach, where some learners were reportedly assisted to shore by lifeguards after experiencing challenges. Subsequent to a headcount, it was realized that two learners are missing,” the department said in a statement.
“The search went on until the evening with no success, after which the educators opened a missing persons case at Durban Central Police Station,” said in a statement.
The bodies of two learners were discovered on Monday.
“On Monday, 28 March 2022, the educators were informed that the bodies of two boy learners were discovered about 2km north of the beach from where they went swimming on Sunday.”
Gauteng MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi has expressed deep sadness and said the incident was disheartening.
“It’s disheartening that a positive sporting school trip that our learners passionately participated in ended in such a tragic manner. We convey our most heartfelt condolences to the two affected families and the school community at large,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi said that counselling would be provided to the learners upon their return.
“Our Psycho-Social unit has been dispatched to counsel the school community of Hoërskool Birchleigh and this counselling will continue upon return of the learners from Durban,” said Lesufi.
– Inside Education
