Johnathan Paoli
THE principal of the Daveyton Skills School, Thembi Letsoalo, could face disciplinary action and criminal charges following a report into the tragic drowning of two learners earlier this year.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane briefed the media on Tuesday, and shared the investigative report which probed the deaths of 15-year-old Siphamandla Peterson and 17-year-old Sibusiso Sibiya from Daveyton Skills School who drowned during a “discipline camp” at Rock Falls Adventure Ranch in Centurion on 15 April.
Seanago attorneys’ Thembekile Graham, who accompanied Chiloane, has recommended that Letsoalo be held liable for the drowning and said she did not submit any application to the department for the trip, with no approval consequently being granted.
“The report reveals that the principal of Daveyton Skills School said she did not know of the regulations on taking children out on school excursions,” Graham said.
Graham said crucial safety measures were not adhered to by the school and could not be identified or corrected by the department and Letsoalo instructed that only the social worker accompany the pupils and supervise them, with no teachers being invited.
She confirmed that 19 facilitators from the NGO Rising Stars attended the camp, but that this was not in accordance with the teacher-learner ratio regulations due to their lack of qualifications as teachers.
“She did not verify their qualifications and presented them to parents as specialists. She failed to inform the parents of the risks associated with the activities to be undertaken by the pupils,” Graham said.
The report found that when the incident occurred, the social worker was in the bathroom, and no facilitators were at the dam site.
Chiloane said it remained dubious on whether Letsoalo could plead ignorance of the regulations.
“We find this version concerning especially because there were at least two occasions where the department emphasised the importance of complying with the regulations,” he said.
The MEC said Letsoalo further received a memo urging schools to apply for trips three months in advance and included a checklist, which the principal acknowledged receipt of.
In addition, he said it remained concerning that the school governing body was not informed of the trip, preventing it from ensuring the suitability of the camp and the accompaniment of teachers.
Addressing the media around the time of the incident, Chiloane said preliminary reports revealed that the trip was not sanctioned by the district office of the education department.
He said the department cannot be blamed for the death of two pupils during a school excursion, due to the failure of Letsoalo to follow proper procedures.
While the report has recommended disciplinary action against the principal, the families of the deceased confirmed that a criminal case has been opened against Letsoalo.
INSIDE EDUCATION
