Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane will today release the findings of an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a grade 6 pupil.
Chiloane will present the findings at Khehlekile Primary School in Thokoza, east of Johannesburg to the family of the pupil, school management team (SMT) and school governing body (SGB).
This after 12-year-old Sibusiso Mbatha, a pupil at Khehlekile, hung himself in the outside toilet of his home three weeks ago. Sibusiso was laid to rest in October.
On October 30, the department appointed independent law firm BR Rangata Attorneys to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Sibusiso.
The law firm, led by its founder Baitseng Rangata and advocate Lehutjo Mello, was presented to the family, SMT and SGB.
State capture commission
Rangata was one of the evidence leaders in the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture which was chaired by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
The department gave the law firm five days to complete its investigation, starting on November 1.
Meanwhile, Nosipho Nkosi, the aunt of Sibusiso, told Sunday World a few days after Sibusiso’s death that a teacher who allegedly bullied Sibusiso the day before he allegedly died by suicide had visited their home to gloat.
The teacher, Sonny Dlamini, whom the family said the boy had complained about on numerous occasions, allegedly told the family that he had warned him about being gay.
“I told him to leave his gayness,” Nkosi alleged that Dlamini told the grieving family.
Nkosi said the visit devastated the Sibusiso’s mother Mpumi Mbatha, who was already blaming herself for not taking action when her son complained about “Sir Dlamini”.
Describing Sibusiso as a cheerful and outspoken child who identified with the LGBTQI+ community, Nkosi said the family loved him as he was.
“He was an overachiever who thought he would win the likes of Sir Dlamini by outperforming academically,” said Nkosi.
