The search is still on for the missing grade 12 learner Bandile Banda who bunked school and was swept away by the Umlumati River in Mpumalanga.Banda is said to have drowned while crossing Umlumati River last month.

BUNKING SCHOOL

It is alleged that Banda and his friend bunked school during their lunch break when he became unlucky and drowned. His friend managed to escape the overflowing Umlumati River and went back to school to report the matter. "Banda has since been missing for so long now and the divers and are beginning to lose hope of ever finding him," said the source. Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson Selvy Mohlala confirmed the incident. "Our search will continue until Friday and then we will determine whether we call it off or continue," he said. MEC for Education in Mpumalanga, Bonakele Majuba, visited Shongwe Boarding School and the family of the boy in Driekopies on Tuesday Majuba used the visit to get a detailed report of the incident and to convey his sincere sympathy to family. Majuba pledged to continue to work with the police and the divers to continue the search for the learner.This incident happened at the time when the province was experiencing torrential rains last month which led to the flooding of the Mlumati River.

SUSPENDED CLASSES

The  preliminary report states that the learner drowned while trying to cross the overflowing Mlumati River, after he together with his friend ran away from the school on the second week of February 2023. The learner has since not been recovered besides endless efforts by police divers to find him. Shongwe Boarding School had to suspend classes for nine days  as a precautionary measure as the school is adjacent to Driekopies Dam and is also not far from the Mlumati River ,which was overflowing at the time. "We are truly saddened by this development and we wish that the family may find strength to deal with this unfortunate situation.  We  are still optimistic that now that the river is subsiding the learner may be found. We will continue to work with the police to ensure that the family finds closure. "We are grateful that classes at Shongwe Boarding have resumed and that learning and teaching is going on unhindered. We also extend our support to the school, teachers, and learners for effective teaching and learning to take place," Majuba concluded.