KwaMakhutha school community mourn death of matric pupil
Pupils at Masakhaneni High School in KwaMakhutha are still in shock following the death of a fellow learner during a department-run boot camp ahead of matric exams.
This in the wake of two pupils being stabbed to death at the school back in August. The Department of Basic Education in KZN's Kwazi Mthethwa says the boy was unwell when he arrived at the boot camp.
"On arrival, he reported that he was not feeling well - he was in the sick room for the whole of Saturday. When his situation improved on Sunday, he was asked to join the rest of the learners at the boot camp," Mthethwa said.
But Mthethwa says he then took another turn for the worse and was sent home, where he died last Thursday.
"It was on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, the learner felt this was getting worse. That's when the department decided to send him home. Between Wednesday and Thursday, we are not sure what happened because he was already under the care of his parents but on Thursday night, we received sad news that the learner has passed away," Mthethwa said.
Mthethwa says they're waiting for the results of a post-mortem to determine the cause of death.
He says department officials have met with the parents and have offered their full support.