A 45-year-old teacher at Platt Drive Primary in Isipingo, KwaZulu-Natal this week succumbed to COVID-19.
Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said another teacher at the school had also tested positive for the contagious virus.
“Losing teachers at a time like this is particularly hard when they are instrumental in ensuring that learning and teaching continues during the time of the lockdown,” Motshekga said.
A grade 9 pupil, who is related to one of the teachers, also tested positive. However, the 14-year-old pupil attends a different school.
MEC for education in KwaZulu-Natal, Kwazi Mshengu, said the death of the teacher was a sad reminder that society must take extra caution during this time.
“We also really need to take heed of the government’s call for social distancing, hygiene practices and staying safe. It [COVID-19] can happen to anybody and, for that reason, let’s ensure that we do all we can to stop the spread of the virus.”
Also this week, COVID-19 claimed the life of world-renowned HIV/Aids researcher Gita Ramjee. At the time of her death, she was the chief scientific officer of HIV
global at the Aurum Institute and was working on trials for a gel that could possibly reduce the transmission of HIV in young women.
Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande said Ramjee’s death had robbed South Africans of “one of the finest, tireless champions of science, research, women’s reproductive health and rights and the national system of innovation”.
Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town the hardest hit university in the country after having a sixth COVID-19 case this week.
