/ 1 January 2002

Children must be under constant care, says court

The Cape High Court ruled on Monday that educators have an obligation to place school pupils from grades one to three under constant supervision — even when they are on school playgrounds.

The ruling stems from a 10-year court battle fought by the parents of paraplegic Randall Wynkwart, who in 1990 as an 8-year-old school pupil fell off a school fence and broke his neck.

The Cape High Court on Monday awarded him R1,3-million in damages.

The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for educators and Western Cape Education MEC Andre Gaum told etv news that the court’s decision ”had placed an onerous burden on educators.” – Sapa