A Wattville mother is demanding answers after her 18-year-old son with special needs sustained injuries to two fingers, allegedly while working unsupervised with a brickmaking machine at Actonville Training Centre in Rynsoord, a Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN) facility.

According to the mother, he injured his right index and middle fingers on September 10, then went to the school nurse for assistance.

The school contacted his father, who informed the mother before their son was rushed to a private hospital in Benoni.

Upon the mother’s arrival at the hospital, she found her son with a bandaged hand.

She says the hospital charged R6 000 for X-rays, an examination and treatment to stop the bleeding, which the school reportedly paid.

However, the hospital gave the family a grim prognosis, informing them that one of the injured fingers had been severely crushed and would require removal and replacement with a prosthesis at a cost of R90 000.

According to the mother, the school principal told her the school could not afford this expense and suggested discharging the patient and transferring him to a government hospital.

Despite a visit by the GDE circuit manager and departmental officials to their home on September 14, the mother said she had not yet received a formal response from the school or the district education department.

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She said her son won’t go back to school until they receive feedback, and she is also demanding access to the school’s code of conduct and wants to inspect the machine involved in the incident.

The mother opened a case at Benoni SAPS, and the learner is receiving treatment at Tambo Memorial Hospital.

Actonville Training Centre declined to comment and referred Benoni City Times to the GDE.

GDE responds

Onwabile Lubhelwana, GDE spokesperson, said the department is aware of the incident and an investigation is at an ‘advanced stage’.

“The GDE is aware of the unfortunate incident that took place at Actonville Teaching Centre in Benoni on September 10.

“The parent of the learner was informed, and the learner was taken to the nearest hospital to receive medical attention.

“Investigations are at an advanced stage, and the outcome will determine action to be taken.

“The school has a policy that requires an educator and an assistant to be present during practical work.

“Our psycho-social support team has been dispatched to provide the necessary support to the affected learner.

“Moreover, the department is doing daily welfare checks on the learner.”

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