Shock as 2 Gauteng pupils commit suicide
Updated | By Lindiwe Mpanza
The Department of Education in Gauteng is providing support to two schools after two pupils committed suicide in the space of a week.
A 17-year-old Grade 12 girl-pupil from Phahama Secondary School in Randfontein committed suicide by hanging herself at home, while the 19-year-old Grade 12 pupil from Hoërskool Bekker shot himself with his father’s firearm.
The department's spokesperson Steve Mabona says it is alleged that the 17-year-old girl took her life after losing a new cell phone. She was apparently afraid to tell her parents about the loss of the phone.
The 19-year-old boy left a note which is expected to form part of the police investigation.
Meanwhile, the department has also announced that schools in the province will increase classroom capacity in schools with high-pressure zones in order to accommodate unplaced pupils in grade 1 and 8.
Mabona says to date the department has managed to place almost 95% of the pupils.
"The remaining 14 617 applicants are still to receive placement offers and must be placed by the 30 November 2019 deadline."
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