An 11-year-old pupil died and four others were injured when the wall of a classroom under construction collapsed on them at a school near Hartenbos in the southern Cape on Friday.
Aubrey Peterson, who was in grade five at Brandwacht Primary School, and his school mates had been playing on the site, the Western Cape education department said.
The injured children were taken to the provincial hospital in Mossel Bay for treatment. One was discharged, and doctors were assessing the injuries of the others.
Provincial education minister Cameron Dugmore said a departmental investigation has been launched into the tragedy.
The department said that when the accident happened, on what was a windy morning, contractors had completed the floor and two walls of the prefabricated building.
The principal, Jean Francke, had regularly warned learners not to play near the construction work, and on Friday visited the site herself to tell the children to leave.
”As she turned to leave, one of the walls of the building collapsed, trapping the children underneath. The school immediately called the police and ambulance services to assist in lifting the wall off the learners and to provide emergency medical treatment.” — Sapa