The Mpumalanga Department of Education is investigating the death of the Grade 11 student.
- Died 11th grade Hoërskool Kriel on Thursday.
- 17-year-old Bafana Sithole was found dead in one of the classrooms.
- The circumstances of his death are being investigated, the police have started an investigation.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education is investigating the death of a Year 11 student who died at a high school in Krill.
Bafana Sithole, a 17-year-old student at Hoërskool Kriel, died on Thursday.
While the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated, Mpumalanga Department of Education spokesperson Jasper Zwane said the incident took place on school grounds.
“The department will determine the course of action once it receives the report from the investigation team,” Zwane added.
He said counseling services were in place at the school on the day of the incident and will remain in place until all those affected have recovered.
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The police also confirmed the incident and said that an investigation has been launched.
Police spokesperson Brigadier General Selvi Mohlala said officers were called to the school to reports of an incident in a classroom.
Paramedics were later called to the school and pronounced the student dead, Mohlala said.
Mohlala added:
It is further stated that the deceased did not have any problem at home and the teachers also noted that he was not in any trouble and he finished writing the examination at 10:00 AM.
Zwane said the department noted with concern rumors circulating on social media about a planned protest by residents of Krill to disrupt final exams in the area.
Zwane said a group called Justice for Bafana was allegedly planning a protest march on Monday to barricade the gates of Hoërskool Kriel. However, Zwane told News24 that there were no protests on Monday.
“Exams are going well, no protests have been recorded at the school yet,” he added.
If you or someone you know has a mental health problem, you can contact the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) 24-hour mental health helpline on 0800 456 789; Sadaga’s WhatsApp Advice Line, open from 09:00 to 16:00, on 076 882 2775, Mental Health Federation of South Africa on 011 781 1852 and LifeLine South Africa on 0861 322 322.
