The grieving mother of Manqoba Mnisi, Bongiwe, in Jabulani claims her son’s death is being covered up and that the school is failing to be transparent about the incident, reports Soweto Urban.

According to her, five-year-old Manqoba, a Grade R pupil at Bernard Isaacs Primary School, died on the school premises after sustaining injuries on February 2.

She said she received a call on the morning of the incident from a school official informing her of the tragedy involving her son and asking her to come to the school.

Minutes later, she received another call telling her not to come, as someone from the school would fetch her instead.

“It took them a long time to arrive. When they eventually came, they took my father at Coronationville. When we arrived at the hospital, I was told by one of the school officials that they had found my son lying on the ground near the school toilet,” she said.

Hospital arrival

“They tried to perform CPR on him, but he was not responding. After checking his pulse, they decided to rush him to the hospital,” she added.

Manqoba’s mother claimed that upon arriving at the hospital, she was not immediately informed about what had happened to her son.

She said the long wait at the hospital left her growing impatient, prompting her to repeatedly ask about her son’s condition.

She was later informed that Manqoba had passed away.

According to Mnisi, the doctor at the hospital revealed that tests showed Manqoba appeared healthy and that no poison was found in his body.

She revealed that an unknown individual had contacted her, explaining the circumstances of her son’s death and claimed that negligence may have played a role.

Mnisi is demanding justice for her son and wants the truth about what really happened.

Department responds

The Department of Education confirmed the incident and that Manqoba passed away after sustaining injuries on the school premises.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families, school communities and peers, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the incident is thoroughly investigated,” said in a statement.

Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said an inquest docket has been opened at Sophiatown Police Station.

“The police are investigating circumstances that led to the death of a five-year-old learner at one of the schools in Coronationville,” said Masondo.

Manqoba’s memorial service was held on Thursday and he was laid to rest on Saturday.

In a separate incident yesterday, Kempton Express reported that a 10-year-old boy from Reagile Primary School in Thembisa tragically died when a soccer goalpost fell onto him. The incident is being investigated by police.

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