Senzo Nhlapo, a Grade 7 boy learner (12) from Avanté Primary School in Randfontein, who had been undergoing counselling, allegedly committed suicide on Thursday. Picture: Supplied.
Tragedy has struck a Randfontein family after a 12-year-old learner, who had been undergoing counselling at his school, allegedly committed suicide.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) announced on Friday that it was saddened by the death of a Grade 7 boy learner, Senzo Nhlapo, 12, from Avanté Primary School in Randfontein who allegedly committed suicide on Thursday while visiting his grandmother in Randfontein.
The GDE confirmed that the tragic incident occurred after counselling sessions with the learner at school, emanating from concerns over his wellbeing, before recess in September.
The learner’s grandmother Ntombifuthi Nhlapo said she found her grandson tied to a belt and she removed the belt while his other relative tried to perform CPR and pour water on the boy.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane, who visited the family of the boy on Friday, said it was a loss to the entire education sector, the future and the country as a whole.
“Mental health is a big issue in our society and we are currently in the Mental Health Awareness Month so this tragedy could not have happened at the worst period,” Chiloane said.
The MEC added that according to the school, the learner indicated that he had suicidal thoughts for a while.
The principal of Avanté Primary School, Reginah Marule, said the learner was referred immediately to the school’s counsellor, who reported the matter to her.
“When she came to report this matter to me, I said this is beyond our control. We have to report immediately to the social worker and the district and that is what I did on September 29,” Marule said.
The principal added that the school called the district’s psycho-social unit who came to the school and reported the matter to the social workers. Marule said the social workers had an appointment with the learner’s grandmother but the learner died before that meeting.
“The school did its level best. It came in quickly, brought in counsellors to counsel the children, brought in NGOs and social workers as well to help the child but unfortunately, during school holidays, the child had a lapse and decided to take his own life,” Chiloane said.
He added that it was the worst thing that could happen to any parent to lose a child during the school holidays when they should be playing, resting and preparing for a new term.
The principal added that the learner was a happy and funny boy who performed well academically. Marule further described the learner as an all-rounder as he was a dancer and participated in public speaking.
“We lost a legend. We lost a champion at Avanté,” the principal said.
Meanwhile, the department’s Psychosocial Unit partnered with Vuka Ukhanye and other local support systems and were sent to individually debrief and counsel learners, facilitating loss group internalisation and helping learners externalise their thoughts of concerns.
“As a department, we are grieving,” the MEC said.
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