Two learners from the Daveyton Skills School, in the East Rand, have drowned in a man-made dam at a private camping site near the Hennops River in Centurion during a school excursion on Monday.
According to the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department, it received a call around on Monday afternoon, where the drowning incident was reported.
“Emergency Services arrived on the scene to find that two boys aged between 13 years and 16 years of age had drowned.
It is alleged that the boys were engaged in a water activity as part of a school excursion.
The bodies were recovered by the South African Police Services divers and were declared dead by paramedics on the scene,” said the Department spokesperson, Charles Mabaso.
Mabaso added that circumstances leading to the drowning incident remain a subject of investigation by the SAPS.
The school, which is based in Daveyton, caters to children with additional education needs.
According to the Gauteng Education Department, the two learners, aged 13 and 16, were attending a discipline camp held by non-governmental organisation Rising Stars Generation in Pretoria from Friday, 12 April, and were scheduled to return on Monday.
“It is alleged that, after activities had been concluded on Monday afternoon, one of the learners suddenly ran towards a nearby river close to the campsite entrance.
A second learner followed in an attempt to bring him back.
It is further alleged that the learner who ran off jumped into the river, prompting the second learner to try and rescue him.
However, both learners unfortunately drowned as a result,” said the Department spokesperson, Steve Mabona.
Mabona added that the Department’s Psycho-Social Support Unit will be dispatched to the school to provide necessary trauma support and counselling.
Meanwhile, MEC Matome Chiloane said he was heartbroken by the tragic loss of two young learners, adding that the Department committed to providing support to all affected.
“We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate deaths of our learners during a school excursion.
On behalf of the Department, we wish to extend our sincerest condolences to their respective families and the Daveyton Skills School community,” said Chiloane.
This is one of the many incidents that continue to plague the province schools during excursions.
Earlier this year, a grade 7 learner from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria Centurion, Latoya Temilton, drowned and died during a school excursion at Wag ‘n Bietjie Campsite in Olifantsfontein.
An independent panel appointed by the department has since recommended that the school principal and educators be charged for misconduct.
