Cape Town — The Eastern Cape Department of Education has expressed its sadness over the passing of a three-year-old boy who drowned in a pit toilet last week.
Provincial police spokesperson Priscilla Naidoo said it is alleged that on April 18, the toddler fell into a pit toilet at crèche. Police said the victim has been identified as Unecebo Mboteni, IOL reported.
“The child was taken to hospital and died the following day. The matter was only reported to police after his death and an inquest docket was opened.” Naidoo said.
According to Eastern Cape Department of Education MEC, Fundile Gade, has expressed deep sadness about the death of a three-year-old boy who drowned in a pit toilet on Friday. The incident happened at Little Champions Day Care Centre non-profit organisation (NPO) at Mdantsane Nu 6, in East London, News24 reported..
Gade said that the loss of a life, especially at such a young age, is indeed one of the most devastating incidents, not only to the family and the centre management, but the entire Eastern Cape community.
🚩 Reports of yet another child drowning in a pit toilet, this time in the Eastern Cape, are extremely alarming and unacceptable. This pattern of innocent lives being lost due to insufficient infrastructure needs to end. @DBE_SA @GovernmentZA @PresidencyZA @ECDOEZA
— @AmnestySAfrica (@AmnestySAfrica) April 23, 2024
“Irrespective of the fact that the child was under the management of the above-mentioned centre, the department is committed to supporting the parents and entire staff during this difficult time, hence the activation of its psychosocial support services, to provide debriefing and counselling services to all the traumatised from April 22, 2024.” Gade added.
According to Sunday World, Gade said the department will, starting on Monday, dispatch its psychosocial support services to provide debriefing and counselling services to all the people who have been traumatised by the incident. This is meant to support the centre’s leadership so that the management can plan its next move.
“The department does play a critical role in providing funding for these institutions and focuses on three modalities, namely school nutrition, stimulation equipment for the children, and payment of stipends for the employees or caretakers,” Gade said.
He added that the department would provide guidance to the centre to ensure that it adheres to guidelines provided by the government for the safety of children under its care.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
