VIDEO: Education MEC visits school of drowned Grade 7 learner
The tragic incident has been riddled with allegations that 12-year-old Latoya Temilton drowned during a school outing on January 20, when there was allegedly no supervision at the pool.
“Who did not do their work?”
This was the question the Gauteng education was trying to resolve after the death of Grade 7 learner Latoya Temilton.
MEC Matome Chiloane visited her school Laerskool Queenswood on January 29 to introduce Nchupetsang Inc Attorneys who are entrusted with investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
The law firm will help establish how the Grade 7 learner drowned during a school trip on which Laerskool Queenswood authorities were at the helm.
The 12-year-old drowned reportedly during the outing on January 20.
Chiloane, in answering questions on allegations about the case including that there was no supervision, said the law firm would investigate all the allegations by those involved.
He however denied as hearsay that the school had asked parents to be quiet about the incident until later.
“The district and school were involved since day one.”
Chiloane said the department would remain transparent with the public.
“It is a difficult moment for the department as we find ourselves in this position every year.”
Chiloane demanded “scientific answers”.
“The family needs to find closure and we need answers, with pertinent questions asked and responded to.”
He said the department was also awaiting the post-mortem results.
“You have noted some incidents in which we have appointed law firms to assist with reports… for us to action together with Nchupetsang.”
Chiloane said the law firm was reputable as it has assisted the department in prior scandals such as the sale of posts.
He said the department had hired the law firm as more answers were needed to ascertain how the tragic drowning unfolded.
“We have reports that have come forward from the school and the district, however, there are areas where we need more answers as to what happened in the pool. What happened around and in the pool?”
Chiloane said the question of supervision needed to be answered.
“When children go on trips, there are measures that need to be in place… We need answers on who did not do their work. Who moved their eye from the children?”
He said classmates were also horrified at the death and needed closure as the incident affected the province.
Chiloane further directed the school principal to ensure his staffers involved in the excursion gave their full cooperation.
He said a report would be ready within seven days and required the attorneys to also provide recommendations to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring.
He added the report would be shared with the family and public later.
Chiloane was unable to present the law firm to the family as they are still away in Mpumalanga following funeral proceedings, however, the department would facilitate necessary engagements between the family and the law firm.
“They are integral to this investigation and need to be afforded the respect they deserve in this matter.
“The school has assured their full cooperation in this investigation, which is crucial to determine the allegations and circumstances surrounding this incident.
“As the department, we wish to prevent incidents of this nature from occurring in the future,” said Chiloane.
Head of Nchupetsang Inc Attorneys, Meshack Nchupetsang outlined the terms of the investigation.
Nchupetsang said consulting and interviewing all stakeholders were at the forefront of the investigation.
“These include learners, teachers, the principal, school governing body members, the school management team (SMT) and the family.
We will run fact-finding and interrogate the allegations, what happened and report on how the learner succumbed to her death.”
The law firm will also visit Wag ’n Bietjie Resort in Witkoppen, the venue of the excursion, to interview personnel there, inspect the scene, and review CCTV footage.
The law firm will also interact with police to review post-mortem results and interact with the family of the learner, particularly on allegations that have been circulating publicly.
Department legal chief director Ntini Mashigo said police would have to be roped in for access to the post-mortem.
“This is a culpable homicide matter and the law firm needs to involve police to determine the cause of death.”
Mashigo said police would also assist in obtaining video footage from the resort.
“This is not about finding fault but to refine excursions… and they must go on trips. We do not want to discourage, we want to refine supervision.”
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