Enock Mpianzi: Family to Sue Education Department

The family of a South African pupil who drowned while attending a school orientation camp is planning to sue the Gauteng Department of Education.

In January, 13-year-old Enock Mpianzi – alongside other Grade 8 pupils from Parktown Boys High School – attended the camp at the Nyati Bush and Riverbreak Lodge in Brits, North West Province.

The youngster died when he was swept away in the Crocodile River, after the makeshift raft that he and other boys were on overturned.

On Monday, 8 June, Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, announced at a media briefing in Midrand that Mpianzi’s family is suing his department for R10 million.

He said: “[Last week] we received a letter from legal representatives representing the family about a potential action that they will take.”

Saying that the department has no intention to oppose the lawsuit, Lesufi added: “We have allowed our legal team to continue to engage with the legal firm representing the family, so that we use previous court cases that have ruled on matters such as this in nature as a barometer to determine an appropriate amount.”

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