JOHANNESBURG – The Gauteng Department of Education has appointed an independent law firm to probe the death of a Grade R pupil at Bernard Isaacs Primary School in Coronationville.
Five-year-old Manqoba Mnisi was injured on Monday, 2 February, allegedly after being left alone in a classroom during a school function. He later died in hospital.
His family insists the school is not being truthful about what happened and now anger is mounting with community members protesting outside the school.
"We need justice and answers about what happened that day," his aunt Phumla Malandisa said.
"They [the school] lied and said he fainted near the toilets. How? He had blood on the side of his mouth. We just want the truth, because now there are many conflicting stories."
In a statement, the department said the independent investigation will ascertain the full facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
The law firm is set to meet Manqoba’s family next Tuesday. MEC Matome Chiloane visited the family on Friday.