Statement by Ron Swartz, Head of Education in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has completed a preliminary investigation into an incident in which a Grade 5 learner at Eastville Primary, Mitchell’s Plain, died after an altercation with a classmate.

Sandisiwe Languza, 11, died on Friday (14 November 2003) after apparently hitting her head on a table.

The aim of the investigation was to establish the facts involved, and to guide the immediate response of the department to the incident. Further response will depend on the outcome of the official inquest.

The WCED’s Education Management and Development Centre (EMDC) in the department’s Metropole South district is working with the school on a variety of responses to the incident.

According to staff at the school, Sandisiwe and a friend started pushing and shoving one another during an argument. Two teachers and a parent tried to separate them. Sandiswe fell over and apparently hit her head.

The deputy principal, Mr Colin Swart, was called. Finding Sandisiwe unconscious, he administered mouth to mouth resuscitation. Realising that the situation was serious, he asked for the paramedics to be called. They arrived within 10 minutes.

In the meantime, the school telephoned the parents of both learners. Sandisiwe's mother and uncle arrived and accompanied her to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. The hospital informed the school shortly afterwards that she had died.

The Circuit Manager for the area and the local Safe Schools Coordinator went immediately to the school on hearing of the incident. The WCED’s Safe Schools Call Centre was called to arrange trauma counseling.

The local EMDC dispatched a team of six psychologists, coordinated by the school psychologist, Mr Clive Cairns, to debrief and counsel Grade 5 learners and staff.

The debriefing team returned to the school this morning (Monday, 17 November 2003) to see any other learners or educators who may need debriefing, and to counsel the other learner involved in the incident.

The Safe Schools Call centre is arranging counseling for the families of both learners. The EMDC is providing advice on how the issues of death and dying can best be dealt with as part of the school’s teaching programme.

Sandisiwe’s death has deeply affected all concerned, and we have offered our deepest condolences to her family.