Report fingers Daveyton principal for learners’ drowning at camp

The law firm that investigated the deaths of two Daveyton Skills School learners at a discipline camp in April recommended the principal, Thembi Letsoalo, face a disciplinary hearing and the camp organiser must be charged.

The learners, Siphamandla Peterson (15) and Sibusiso Sibiya (17), both of Thembisa, drowned while attending the camp at Rock Falls Ranch Adventures in Centurion on April 15.

Seanego Attorneys, which was tasked with finding the circumstances that led to the boys’ deaths, recommended the provincial education department report Rising Stars Generation, the NGO which hosted the camp, to the Department of Social Development.

“Disciplinary action should be taken against the Daveyton Skills School principal,” said the lead investigator, Thembekile Graham, of the law firm.

Graham presented the report at the school on July 30.

Principal’s conduct

The law firm found the principal’s conduct extremely concerning after not obtaining the requisite approval for the trip from the department. This resulted in various safety measures not being adhered to and the department could not rectify them.

“The principal only sent one social worker to accompany and supervise the learners and thus failed to comply with the requisite learner-teacher ratio in terms of the tour regulations.

“She relied on Mr Motlou and the facilitators of Rising Star, who are not qualified teachers, as per tour regulations.

“The social worker was allegedly in the restroom when she heard the commotion and the Rising Stars facilitators were scattered around the camp area and not at the dam when the incident happened.

“The principal failed to inform the parents of the risks associated with the activities to be undertaken by the learners, thus remiss in her duties as principal.

“Her reason for not complying with the regulations is that she did not know about them.

“We find this version concerning, especially because there were at least two occasions where the department emphasised the importance of complying with the regulations.”

Drowning

Graham explained there were uncertainties regarding the precise circumstances of the incident. She concluded the incident most likely happened around 14:00.

She said the learners had done their laundry, some had finished their lesson on a car engine with the camp founder Prince Motlou, others were sleeping and some were cooking.

“Most facilitators were scattered around the camp. A group of learners began to swim in the dam for a short while,” Graham said.

The report found that the learners either swam after requesting permission from Motlou and being refused or after he allowed them to swim.

“This is where the confusion arises because of the different versions from the learners.”

Peterson and Sibiya were among the group of learners who went to swim in the dam.

“Peterson was drowning when Sibiya tried to save him. Both drowned in the process. The learners that were around and in the dam were screaming and pointing to the spot where the deceased had disappeared into the water.

“Mr Motlou and some facilitators who heard the shouting jumped into the water and attempted to save the learners. One facilitator who jumped in almost drowned, but was saved and resuscitated.”

Graham said while the incident was taking place, two facilitators ran to the camp owner’s home and informed him. They asked him to drain the dam urgently, but he refused.

The emergency services and police divers arrived and paramedics declared both dead after they recovered the bodies of the pupils.

Investigation

During the investigation, the firm held consultations and interviews with Peterson and Sibiya’s families, the founder and facilitators of Rising Stars, relevant school staff, including the principal, her two deputies, administrators, the social worker, and district officials.

They also received information anonymously.

“We conducted an inspection in loco at the ranch on May 3 and 6, where we met with the owner and his attorney. They informed us to address questions we might have in writing, which we did.”

At the time of finalising the report, Seanego Attorneys had not received responses to their questions from the owner, despite their various follow-ups.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said disciplinary action against the principal had already begun.

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