Education MEC in Limpopo, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, has conveyed her condolences to the families of two grade 12 learners who died at the weekend.
A learner from Tshamahansi outside Mokopane in the Mogalakwena district was allegedly killed after sneaking away from a study camp at the Ben Hlongwane Secondary School.
It is reported that the learner was found with stab wounds outside the school premises. The circumstance of how the learner got out of the camp is a subject of an investigation by the department.
The police have also launched a manhunt for the people responsible for the murder the 20-year-old.
In another incident, the body of a matriculant was retrieved from the river in Sekhukhune on Saturday afternoon, five kilometres from where he was last seen. The learner is believed to have drowned.
The department has appealed to parents and guardians to protect the youth and children, especially as the holiday season is fast approaching.
“It is disturbing that in just one week we lost two grade 12 learners under similar circumstances,” said Lerule-Ramakhanya.
“The idea of affording learners extra lessons at the school premises was meant to keep them focused on their school work in an endeavour to improve their matric results.”
She added that it is a huge loss to the family and the department. “We have invested so much in these learners and we hope this will be the last incident.”
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