Pupils and teachers at Brandwacht Primary School near Mossel Bay on Monday were mourning the death of an 11-year-old pupil, Aubrey Peterson, killed by a collapsing wall.
The Western Cape education department said four other pupils were injured in the accident on Friday. The wall that collapsed was under construction at the time.
About half of the school’s children had stayed at home, presumably because of shock, said teacher Calvin Mann.
”The children are calm, and teachers are not able to work,” he said.
A school psychologist was present on Monday to counsel pupils, and was speaking to Peterson’s classmates.
Mann said Peterson’s younger sister, Jessica, is also a pupil at the school in grade two.
He described her as inconsolable on Friday, ”crying all the time”, and did not know if she was at school on Monday.
Mann said the school will have a memorial service for Peterson on Thursday, ahead of his funeral on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Western Cape education minister Cameron Dugmore said the department will investigate every possible aspect of the tragedy, including the alleged inferior quality materials used during the construction of the mobile classroom.
”The accident has deeply traumatised all those involved. We will continue to provide all possible support to assist the families, friends and members of the school community in dealing with this tragedy,” said Dugmore in a statement expressing his condolences. — Sapa