The search for the Mpumalanga pupil feared drowned in the sea at Richards Bay resumed early on Monday morning, KwaZulu-Natal police said.
Captain Tienkie van Vuuren said the search was being led by the police’s water wing, assisted by the National Sea Rescue Institute, among others.
Seven other pupils drowned after the group decided to go for an early-morning swim at Richards Bay on Sunday.
Van Vuuren said the seven girls who died were Nomcebo Dlamini, Busisiwe Msibi, Busisiwe Ndaba, Bridget Gumede, Maggie Mawelela, Nokuthula Tshabalala and Thobile Ndlangamandla.
All were between 16 and 17 years old and in grades 10, 11 and 12.
They were among a group of about 250 children from Ndlela Secondary School in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, who attended a sports day at Mondini High School in Ntambanana on Saturday, she said.
On their way back home, they stopped off at Alkant Strand in Richards Bay for the night, sleeping there in three buses.
Van Vuuren said a large group of the children went to the beach for a swim at about 7am on Sunday — before lifeguards had arrived for duty.
Lifeguards rescued about another 20 pupils. — Sapa