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By Chulumanco Mahamba 
3h ago
Johannesburg – The family of the deceased Parktown Boys’ High School eighth grader Enock Mpianzi said the initial settlement offer from the Gauteng Department of Education was a slap in the face.
The student’s tragic death sparked waves of outrage across the country earlier this year after Mpianzi drowned in Nyati Bush and River Break in the Northwest on the first day of school this year during an eighth-grade school camp.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed at a press conference on Sunday that the family was made a settlement offer of 10 million rand, which they rejected, and issued a subpoena demanding 20 million rand.
“Unfortunately, we did not agree and the family still insists that the department give them 20 million rand as a settlement. This amount is far beyond what the department is able to pay, ”said Lesufi.
The family’s attorney, Wikus Steyl, however, told The Star on Monday that the department was not being forthright about the initial settlement offer it had made.
“The department made a settlement offer in July or August for less than 5% of the R10m that he (Lesufi) said they offered. The claim has always been R20m, R10m per parent, so I don’t know where he got his information from, ”Steyl said.
He added that the family was offended by the department’s initial liquidation offer.
“The family said it was a slap, they were very offended. No amount of money can bring Enock back, but such an offer was like an annoying payment for them to leave without addressing the real issue, ”Steyl said.
In response to Steyl, GDE spokesman Steve Mabona said: “We can confirm that the department has provided them with an offer that was deemed appropriate based on the merit of the case and case law.”
Lesufi also announced Sunday that the school’s principal, Malcolm Williams, had remained in office until his termination appeal process was completed.
He was fired in October after the department said the director had failed to ensure the list was kept throughout the trip and also undertook the excursion without prior approval from the department head.
Steyl said the family was initially relieved when Williams was fired. However, when they heard that he was appealing his dismissal, it opened up old wounds.
In March, the coroner’s report compiled by Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys found that Williams, six teachers, the school and the GDE were negligent in the death of the teenager. The family faces their first Christmas without him.
The star
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