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- Enoch Mpianzi’s family is suing the Gauteng education department for 20 million rand.
- MEC Panyaza Lesufi said they gave the family an offer to resolve the matter, but they rejected it.
- The department is contesting the lawsuit.
Lawyers representing the Enoch Mpianzi family have filed a 20 million rand lawsuit with the Gauteng education department.
MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed on Sunday that they had received a subpoena from the Mpianzi family’s legal representation.
Lesufi said the family had been made an offer to resolve the matter, which was rejected.
“They have summoned us demanding 20 million rand,” Lesufi said.
Lesufi said they oppose the lawsuit.
“… we don’t want to oppose cases for opposing cases. We really believe that we can persuade each other and use acceptable figures that the courts have ruled. There has been a lot of litigation before.
“We can take court cases, analyze them and find a solution. We do not want to add and prolong the pain. We do not want to attach a figure to the life of a human being. We know that the courts have dealt with these matters before and we are using it as a benchmark. .
Accommodating
“If we have to be persuaded beyond the benchmark, we are willing to do so, but they should not be figures that we really believe are unreasonable. We are not the only institution here.
“… I remain convinced that we can come up with an acceptable figure, so let’s close this chapter and help the family find closure,” Lesufi said.
Mpianzi, 13, died after being swept away by a strong current in the Crocodile River during a Parktown Boys’ High School grade 8 orientation camp held at Nyati Bush and River Break Lodge in Brits, North West, on 15 from January.
His body was found two days after he disappeared when a makeshift raft that he and other students were traveling overturned in the river.
READ | Enock Mpianzi death: Parktown Boys’ High principal’s firing prompts parents to sue for R20m
Meanwhile, the fired Parktown Boys’ High School principal, Malcolm Williams, is contesting his firing.
Lesufi said Williams remains an employee of the department until his appeal is finalized.
Williams was fired after being found guilty of three counts of misconduct after Mpianzi’s death.
Lesufi said they also submitted an investigative report to the Seboko family on Nov.6, on the circumstances surrounding the death of their son, Keamogetswe Seboko, who died in January 2020 after drowning in a swimming pool at Laerskool Bekker in Magaliesburg.
“Subsequently, our legal team visited the family to reach an agreement on the matter and we continued negotiating,” said Lesufi.
Seboko drowned on January 15 during a swimming activity at the school and her naked body was found at the bottom of the school pool.
Lesufi said his investigation found the school was negligent.
He said that on the day Seboko drowned, the female students were supposed to swim first, but instead the boys went to the water first.
The report also revealed “serious and inconsistent reports” from the principal and teacher who were serving the students at the time.
Lesufi had previously threatened disciplinary action against all officials allegedly involved.
