A grade 6 pupil was found hanging in his home on Monday.
The boy from Khehlekile Primary School in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni was discovered dead in the bathroom in the evening.
The Gauteng department of education said it is conducting an internal inquiry to investigate allegations of bullying at school.
The police are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death.
“The police have opened an inquest docket for further investigations,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
MEC deeply saddned
Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane said he was deeply saddened by the incident, which took place on October 23.
“Our psycho-social support team and officials from the Gauteng department of social development started yesterday [Tuesday] with the process of providing the necessary counselling and will continue as per the need,” said Chiloane in a statement issued by his department.
“We wish to express our deepest sympathies to the bereaved family and school community during this difficult time.
“Our thoughts are with them as we navigate this tragic loss together. We are committed to providing support to the family, learners, and school community at large during this challenging time,” he said.
The boy’s death comes a month after an 11-year-old grade 5 girl from Anzac Primary School in Brakpan, also in Ekurhuleni took her life after being reprimanded by her parents for stealing R300.
The pupil took her life on September 8, just two days before World Suicide Prevention Day, a global event organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and endorsed by the World Health Organisation.
On September 10, to commemorate the day, Chiloane launched a campaign to deal with the scourge of suicide in schools.
40 pupils died by suicide
He told the media that 40 pupils have died of alleged suicide in Gauteng schools since the start of the 2023 academic year.
“As the department, we are devastated by these deaths and believe those numbers constitute far too many young lives that have been taken away from their families, friends and our schools before reaching their full potential,” he said at the time.
“We pledge our support to the families and friends that were befallen by these tragic, premature deaths.”
Chiloane announced that the department was partnering with the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, Childline, the pupils and teachers to deal with the psychological challenges which may lead to suicide or suicidal thoughts.
“Together with our partners, we have already embarked on several interventions.
“These include deploying 500 learner support agents to provide us with an early warning mechanism and give peer counselling to support 1 200 schools,” he said.
He added that he was also sending an additional 120 social workers to assist with risk assessment of pupils and 500 coaches to assist with substance abuse awareness.
The department, according to Chiloane, was also raising awareness about the Childline toll-free number (116), which provides free counselling services to pupils and teachers.
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