Staff Reporter.
The Gauteng education department has reached an out-of-court settlement with the Mpianzi family with regards to the death of grade 8 pupil Enock Mpianzi in January 2019.
Mpianzi drowned during a botched orientation camp arranged by Parktown Boys’ High.
“While conscious to the fact that a young life was lost and will never return, we are hopeful that the out-of-court settlement will bring some comfort and closure to the Mpianzi family, who undoubtedly have been going through a challenging time since the unfortunate passing of Enock,” Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said on Friday.
Thirteen-year-old Mpianzi died at the Nyati Bush and Riverbreak lodge near Brits during a school orientation camp.
The Gauteng Department of Education released a forensic report last year implicating five teachers, the headmaster and the lodge in the drowning.
The family’s lawyer, Wikus Steyl, confirmed the news on Friday.
“I can confirm we have reached a settlement with the department of education which hopefully will help the family find closure,” Steyl said.
He said a civil claim was withdrawn after the settlement was reached.
Although he could not confirm how much the settlement was for, Steyl said that it was an amount that may help the family in a long run.
“The next step now is to ensure the family gets justice and that those responsible are held accountable.”
The family initially sued the department for R20 million. The department’s initial settlement offer was R10 million, which the family refused in December.
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has since welcomed the settlement reached and said that he hoped it would bring comfort to the family.