Mother rejects claims of help
“Department did not say sorry for my son’s death”
The Department of Basic Education’s lawyer Simon Phaswane attempted to poke holes into the testimony of Rosina Komape during cross examination at the Limpopo High Court yesterday.
Komape is the first witness to testify in the lawsuit against the department after her son Michael drowned inside a pit latrine at the Mahlodumela Primary School in Chebeng village outside Polokwane in January 2014.
Komape and her family, assisted by civil organisation Section27, filed a lawsuit against Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga in 2015.
The family is claiming almost R3-million in damages – R2-million for grief and R940 00 for trauma and shock. The family has since rejected a R450 000 settlement from the department.
Yesterday Phaswane said Komape had testified that her family received no assistance from the department despite officials visiting the family to arrange counselling. Phaswane said they intended to call witnesses who would testify that the department offered support and arranged counselling for the family.
Komape said she recalled being visited by two women who advised her to go to the Rethabile Clinic in Polokwane if she was not feeling well.
Komape could not confirm whether the two women were sent by the department, adding the only counselling she received was arranged by Section27.
Phaswane also asked Komape about groceries, saying: “Are you telling the court that you did not get any groceries from the department?”
Komape said they only received groceries from the department on the Thursday before the funeral and that the food was not enough to feed everyone. She told the court no one from the department apologised to her family after the incident.
Phaswane also asked Komape to comment on why she refused to take R450 000 which the department offered her family.
Komape said she refused to take that amount because her child was still young and had his life ahead of him.
“If it was possible I would ask that my child be brought back to life. I would not ask for money. But the money will compensate us for our tears,” she said.
Komape who appeared emotional, stood up from her chair to emphasise her point.
“This must stop with Michael. I don’t want this to happen to another child,” she said firmly.