By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane has expressed “deep sadness” following two separate incidents of learners who apparently died by suicide in the province.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education, one of the incidents occurred at Soshanguve Secure Centre, where a Grade 10 boy learner was discovered hanging in a dormitory during lunch on Monday.
It is reported that the learner had been taken to the juvenile centre about two weeks ago and was awaiting trial.
In a separate incident, a Grade 9 boy learner from Kgetsi Ya Tsie Secondary School tragically took his own life at home on the same day.
The GDE said its Psycho-Social Support Unit will be dispatched to provide assistance in both instances.
Chiloane said the tragic incidents sadly shed light on the importance of emotional wellbeing of learners.
“These incidents serve as a grim reminder that the emotional wellbeing of learners is a shared responsibility that requires immediate attention from all of us,” he said.
“As we mourn the loss of young lives, there is a growing determination to prevent future tragedies and to foster a culture of support, compassion, and understanding within the educational community.”
Earlier this year, two leaners in Ekurhuleni died in separate incidents of suicide.
In the first incident, a Grade 12 pupil student from Nigel High School died by suicide after allegedly taking poison at her home on June 29, while a Grade 8 learner from Geluksdal Secondary School also consumed poison at her home on July 4.
For immediate assistance and support, learners are encouraged to contact Childline by dialing 116. The Childline toll-free Helpline is available 24 hours a day (free from all networks) and what you talk about is confidential. However, if learners want to reveal their identity and see a counsellor they can request for such accordingly.