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MOTHER HAS UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
Child dies at school NCEBA DLADLA
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KWANOBUHLE mother Nomakhaya Festile (33) is still struggling to come to terms with the death two weeks ago of her 7year old daughter, Siqhamo, who she suspects was electrocuted while climbing her school’s security gate. Siqhamo, who was a Grade 1 pupil at Sikhothina Combined Primary School in KwaNobuhle, was buried last Thursday. She was the elder of Nomakhaya’s two children. The incident happened during break time while she was playing with other children. According to the teachers, this was a newly installed gate to protect the school from thieves and vandals who continued to break in and steal valuable property such as computers. Nomakhaya was, however, told by the school authorities that Siqhamo had suffered from an epileptic fit. “The teachers wanted to know whether I was drinking (alcohol). I said no. They asked whether my child had been suffering from fits, and whether she had eaten before going to school. I told them she had eaten and was her bubbly self when she went to school, and that she was not suffering from epilepsy,” said Nomakhaya. Nomakhaya’s brother, Mike Ngxonono, who is a qualified electrician, said, “I enquired from other children what happened after realising that she was electrocuted – even though there were no marks on her hands. We want the school to admit that she was shocked by electricity.” “We are waiting for the post mortem where our suspicions will be confirmed that the child was indeed shocked by electricity.”
Police spokeperson Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said they were still waiting for the results of the post mortem - which normally takes two weeks to be released - to know the exact cause of death. The Department of Education has launched a full-scale investigation into what really transpired at the school, said Provincial spokesperson Mali Mtima. “We have received the news of the child’s death from our District office and urged them to give the family their fullest support. We have also sent our legal team to check all the legalities of what has happened and what should be our next point of entry. We are concerned about the loss of life,” said Mtima. School principal and members of staff visited the Festile family to offer them their support and prayers before the funeral. PE Express Indaba also learnt that Sikhothina Primary School offered R3 000 to the Festile family including a tent and other items to assist with the funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, EC Children’s Rights and Advice Centre’s Advocate Petrus Majola said he was shocked by the news of the child’s death at school. “We want to send condolences to the family and will be checking whether there was any negligence on the part of the Department of Education and the company that installed security (gates) at the school,” said Khula Community Development Project Director Majola, adding that he visited the school last Friday and found the teachers already gone with some children playing by themselves. “I told them to go home as they could not remain at school without teacher-supervision,” he said.
Nomakhaya Festile showing the picture of her child.
PHOTO:NCEBA DLADLA
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