EVATON – The South African Police Services (SAPS) opened a case of inquest and currently an ongoing investigation after three children lost their lives at Evaton Primary School in Evaton West, Extension 11 on Monday morning 12 August 2024.
According to the Police spokesperson Constable Thulisile Msibi, it is alleged that the three deceased, a 10-year-old boy along with his 11-year-old sister and their cousin, an 8-year-old girl left their grandmother’s place going to school as usual.
Msibi further said that the mother of the two siblings was called to the school after the children collapsed and “Upon her arrival, she discovered that all three children were not well”. The children were taken to the Levai Mbatha Clinic in Evaton by emergency services but were declared dead on arrival.
Constable Msibi said that according to the grandmother of the deceased children, they were all well and ate porridge with milk before going to school and Msibi further detailed that before passing on, one of three children according to the school principal had told her that apart from porridge and milk, “they had also eaten biscuits that they received from their stepfather when they met him on their way to school”.
Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC of Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Matome Chiloane also expressed a heavy heart over the death of the three learners “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of these young lives. our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and school communities affected by these (this) devastating incident(s). our psycho-social support team will be dispatched to provide necessary support to everyone involved during this difficult time”.
