By Staff Reporter
TSAKANE– A devastating incident occurred at Tsakane Secondary School on Monday, leaving the school community in mourning after a Grade 8 learner tragically lost her life.
The young girl, whose name has not been disclosed, allegedly consumed rat poison on the school premises, leading to her untimely death.
According to Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education, the incident involved two Grade 8 girls who are believed to have ingested the poison.
“One of the learners collapsed and had to be carried to the school’s administration block, while the other, though visibly weak, managed to walk there,” Mabona explained.
Emergency services were promptly called, and both learners’ parents were notified immediately.
Unfortunately, despite swift response efforts, one of the girls was declared dead on the scene. The other student was urgently transported to a nearby medical facility, where she remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
This tragedy marks the second incident of this nature at Tsakane Secondary School. In a similar heartbreaking event last August, two girls also died after consuming poison.
The Gauteng Department of Education, deeply concerned by the recurrence of such incidents, had previously implemented an action plan to tackle the alarming rise in suicides among school-aged children.
This initiative was prompted by 40 suicide-related incidents reported in schools during the previous academic year.
As part of this plan, the department has been working in collaboration with several organizations, including the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Childline, the Teddy Bear Foundation, and the National Association of Child Care Workers.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane has expressed his condolences to the affected families and emphasized the importance of mental health support for learners. “Support is available, and no one should face their challenges alone.
SADAG will be offering targeted support for learners, including sessions for Grade 12 students as they prepare for their preliminary examinations,” Chiloane stated.
These sessions are designed to equip learners with essential skills such as managing exam stress, effective relaxation techniques, and ways in which parents can support their children during challenging times.
The police have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. The community, meanwhile, is left grappling with the loss and the urgent need for more proactive mental health interventions in schools.
