Yet another school tragedy as Grade 3 boy dies in Daveyton wall collapse

Yet another young life has been lost in Gauteng’s schools.

The province is reeling from a series of tragedies involving young learners, the latest being a Grade 3 boy at Lerutle Primary School in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, who died after a section of a school wall collapsed on children during breaktime on Thursday, 26 March 2026. Six others were injured.

Other recent learner deaths in Gauteng:

• 17-year-old Grade 8 learner, Forest High School, Johannesburg: Allegedly severely beaten and stabbed at Rotunda Park near the school on Friday, March 20; later died in hospital.
• Grade 12 learner, Daleview Secondary School, Ennerdale: Died after being stabbed in an open veld while walking home on Monday, March 23.
• 10-year-old Milton Mokgoatsane, Reagile Primary School, Tembisa: Died on February 16, after a goalpost fell on him; paramedics declared him dead at the scene. A law firm has since been appointed to investigate.
• Five-year-old Manqoba Mnisi, Bernard Isaacs Primary School, Coronationville: Grade R learner died after sustaining injuries on school premises on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Mnisi's mother had raised concerns about possible foul play, alleging that he may have been locked inside a classroom before becoming trapped in a window. He later died in hospital, with his family saying they are still struggling to come to terms with what happened.

In the latest, wall collapse incident at Lerutle Primary, emergency services rushed the injured learners to hospital, but the young boy later succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical treatment.

Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, described the incident as “deeply tragic” and vowed that support would be provided to the family, school, and learners while investigations continue.

“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and the loss of such a young life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the learner’s family, fellow learners, educators, and the entire school community as they mourn this devastating loss. We will ensure that the necessary support is provided and that the circumstances surrounding this incident are determined,” he said.

Investigations into the collapse are underway, while psycho-social support teams have been sent to the school to support learners, staff, and the grieving family.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) also weighed in, raising concerns over school safety. “Gauteng learners are dying because of the Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE) failure to address the crumbling infrastructure in our schools. The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls for urgent and decisive intervention to prevent further tragedies and ensure that our schools are safe and compliant with health and safety standards.”