Daveyton School: Principal 'unilaterally’ planned, approved deadly camp trip
An investigation into the deaths of two pupils during a school excursion has made some damning findings against the principal of the Daveyton Skills School.
The Gauteng Department of Education appointed Seanego Attorneys to probe the circumstances that led to the drowning of teenagers Siphamandla Peterson and Sibusiso Sibiya in April.
The firm's Thembekile Graham released the findings of the probe on Tuesday.
Graham said the school’s principal failed to get prior approval for the trip from the district office.
"No approval was granted by the department. The school did not submit any application for the trip as required in terms of Regulation 7 of the Tour Regulations on Domestic and International Tours for Learners at Public Schools. Crucial safety measures were, as a result, not adhered to by the school, and which could not be identified and corrected by the department."
The report states that no educators were appointed to accompany the pupils on the trip. Instead, the principal instructed that only the social workers may go along and supervise the pupils.
At the camp, 19 facilitators from the non-profit organisation Rising Stars were on site.
"This was not in accordance with the educator-learner ratio prescribed by the Tour Regulations, i.e. at least one male educator accompanies every 20 male learners, and at least one female educator accompanies every 20 female learners or part thereof," Graham added.
'PRINCIPAL'S CONDUCT CONCERNING'
It's emerged that two memorandums were sent to schools across Gauteng, outlining the processes when planning excursions for pupils.
According to Seanego Attorneys, despite signing and acknowledging receipt of the memo in January this year, the principal claimed ignorance.
"We were provided with the email attaching the memo with the details of all the recipients,” said Graham.
“We can confirm that Daveyton Skills School was included in the list of recipients, addressed to the principal on 30 January 2024. To add further, we also received a copy of the acknowledgment of the memo signed by the principal dated 5 February 2024.
"The memo is clear and urged schools to obtain departmental approval for a tour by applying to the District Director at least three months before the departure date of the tour."
“By failing to get the requisite approval, several safety checks were overlooked.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, meanwhile, said the department cannot be blamed, as it did its part by sending out the memo.
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