By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Law firm Seanego Attorneys has been appointed to probe the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two Daveyton Skills School pupils who drowned during a discipline camp.
Teenagers Siphamandla Peterson and Sibusiso Sibiya were laid to rest of Wednesday after they drowned while on a school excursion in the Centurion area nearly two weeks ago.
Gauteng Department of Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited both families, as well as the Daveyton Skills School, to introduce them to the investigators from Seanego Attorneys.
“We have introduced to the families first so that they are aware of what we are doing with regards to what we are doing concerning the incident, the commitments we have made as the department,” he said.
He said disciplinary process against one staffer at the school had already begun, adding that more could be implicated as investigations continue.
“The process has already started with an educator but I will not say their name. I am not going to reveal their identity for the integrity of the process, because we do not want it to go out as though it’s pre-determined outcome.”
Thembekile Graham, from Seanego Attorneys, is the lead investigator in the matter.
“We are committed to conducting this investigation in a thorough manner, and we are ready to commence our work on Monday. We will be seeing the families, the school governing bodies, the management team, officials in the department, the facilitators at the camp, and any other people that we think are of interest to our investigation,” Graham said.
Chiloane confirmed the law firm would also investigate allegations of abuse at the camp.
“Within their investigation they will also be interviewing learners who were at the camp. It’s quite a big cohort because there were about 90 learners. Those that are willing to come forward to talk, they will be able to pick up those details.”
Chiloane gave the law firm seven days to complete the investigation.
“If there are obstacles or challenges that impede us from finishing the report within that time, they will be communicated, “Graham said.