Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane says he is pleased with the findings and recommendations by Seanego Attorneys following an investigation into the drowning of two learners from Daveyton Skills School during a school trip. The learners were attending a discipline camp held by a non-governmental organisation called Rising Stars Generation in Pretoria in April.

NO COMPLIANCE

In their investigation, Seanego Attorneys, a law firm that was appointed to probe the drowning, found that the trip was approved by the department. "The school did not submit any application for the trip as required in terms of Regulation 7 of the Tour Regulations on Domestic and International Tours for learners at public schools. Crucial safety measures were, as a result, not adhered to by the school and which could not be identified and corrected by the department," part of the report read. It was also found that the principal gave instruction that only social workers accompany the learners and supervise them at the camp. "There were no educators that were invited or appointed to attend the camp with the learners. There were approximately 19 facilitators from Rising Stars that attended the camp with the learners. This was not in accordance with the educator-learner ratio prescribed by the tour regulations, that at least one male educator accompanies every 20 male learners, and at least one female educator accompanies every 20 female learners or part thereof," the report reads. The report also found that at the time of the incident, there was no adult supervision for the learners and that the social worker, who was the only person appointed by the school principal to attend and supervise the learners, was reportedly in the restroom when she heard the commotion. "The facilitators from Rising Stars were scattered around the camp area but not by the dam when the two learners drowned," explained the report.

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Seanego Attorney said the principal claims that the reason for not complying with the regulations is that she did not know about these regulations. "We find her version concerning, especially because there were at least two occasions whereby the department emphasised the importance of complying with the regulations and to make a formal application months prior to the trip. This was through an internal memo: Regulations on Excursions and School Tours dated January 28, 2020, addressed to all public-school principals and SGB chairperson. It was more recently through a memo 56/2024: Tours Submission Approvals dated 31 January 2024, which was addressed to all principals, including the principal of the school," the report said, adding that the Daveyton Skills School was included in the list of recipients. The investigation also found that the principal signed a memo dated 5 February 2024 acknowledging receipt of the memo. 

REPORT WELCOMED

Chiloane welcomed the findings by the law firm and said the department is determined to implement all recommended actions accordingly. "The principal has been precautionarily transferred to the district pending a hearing since the investigative report recommended that she be charged. We plead with all Gauteng schools to follow necessary protocols when preparing for excursions and prioritise safeguarding the lives of learners," Chiloane said.