FREAK ACCIDENT
The Tsontswane family in Kanye at Sepojane ward are reeling in pain and disbelief after they were recently summoned to come identify the lifeless body of their 15-year-old son, a few hours after he had left for school in the morning.
The distressed family told The Midweek Sun this week that they buried their son with doubts, despite the report from the school that he died from a freak accident that took place inside Mathiba Junior Secondary School hall.
Speaking on behalf of the child's mother, who was still unable to talk, 60-year-old grandmother to the boy, Mosadikhumo Tsontswane said they were told by the school management that their son was running and accidentally hit a wooden strip used to temporarily divide the hall into two classrooms. He reportedly fainted on the scene but was later confirmed dead at the hospital.
'We buried our son without a bump, scratches or a bruise that showed that indeed he fell or hit anything while running; he was only bleeding through one ear,' she explained.
Further narrating the details, Mosadikhumo could not come to terms with how that could have happened as back at home they know the boy to be the reserved, calm and girly type who would not engage in any kind of running that would even end his life. She is suspicious that he might have died from some form of bullying, and further worries that classes continued at the school as if nothing had happened.
Reports say the boy was playing with two other students. He is said to have taken a beanie (mmese) from one of the colleagues ran away with it. As he entered the hall, he got involved in the accident that killed him.
Grieving Mosadikhumo said their family was briefed at the hospital that her grandson had experienced extreme pain on the head, that could have caused his death.
'I visited the scene, it is hard to believe the story I was told, I want further investigations on what could have caused my son's death,' she said.
Many students revealed to The Midweek Sun that wooden strips used to divide the hall are hazardous and life threatening as they often hit them while attempting to move within the class.
While the school management referred this publication to Regional Education Director, the school headmaster hinted that the student, who was doing Form 3 met his demise in a Form 1 classroom.
He is said to also have had underlying conditions. 'The student fainted while holding his asthma spray, so we can never exactly know what could have happened,' the headmaster said.
Southern District Regional Education Director, Acro Maseko described all this as a freak accident. 'The late student was playing with others and the accident happened,' he explained.
Maseko said from time to time they caution students to never run inside school premises, but to rather walk faster to avoid accidents.