A gr. 8 pupil from Limpopo died when a bookshelf fell on him in the school library on Tuesday afternoon.
Thabo Moagi, 13, was a student at Phala Secondary School in the Broekman settlement in Senwabarawana district.
Jacques Smalle, DA leader in Limpopo, says he is going to investigate because there are allegations that Thabo had to wait long before emergency workers arrived.
Thabo and two other students packed up books in the library.
Sam Makondo, education spokesperson for Limpopo, says it’s not clear exactly what happened, but three pupils were injured when a bookshelf fell on them.
The school called emergency services and all three pupils were taken to Helen Franz Hospital.
One of the pupils was only slightly injured, but Thabo and the other pupil were then taken by ambulance to Polokwane Provincial Hospital.
Makondo said Thabo died of his injuries late Tuesday afternoon. The other pupil is still being treated in the hospital.
Polly Boshielo, MEC for Education in Limpopo, said it was a tragic incident and she was shocked by what happened.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family. It’s so sad to have to put someone to death so young. “
A delegation from the Department of Education in Limpopo visited the school on Wednesday. They also visited Thabo’s distressed family and the injured pupil in the hospital.
Counselors were sent to the school and community to assist those affected.
Smalle says he is concerned about the safety of the bookshelves in the school’s library and he will request Boshielo to investigate.
The DA also plans to visit the school soon.
The incident comes after two other pupils died in January in Ga-Mamaila in Sekgosese when a brick wall fell on them.
Sello Mohale, 7, and Rethabile Nakana, 5, were standing next to the wall at Lekgolo Primary School when a truck carrying food at the school crashed into the back of the wall.
