State blamed for pupils deaths
Deaf learners incinerated at their school hostel
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has blamed education officials for the deaths of three pupils at the North West School for the Deaf in August 2014.
The commission said yesterday that department officials‚ including Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga‚ were responsible for the pupils burning to death at their hostel in Leeudoringsstad.
“The Commission finds that the respondents (North West School for the Deaf‚ the head of department, North West department of education‚ the MEC for education and the minister of basic education) failed to comply with legislation and policy – including the National Building Standards‚ Regulations and National Norms and Standards‚ Regulations for Safety Measures at Public Schools, Uniform Norms and Standards, [and] the Department of Public Works’ Disability Policy Guideline‚” it said in a statement.
The commission began its probe in September 2014 after it learnt that the three pupils were killed in their sleep as the hostel was razed by fire. Part of the commission’s probe was to find out if the fire warning systems at the school were functional‚ and if any school official was on duty at the time of the fire and whether there was any violation of human rights.
Following its lengthy probe‚ the commission said the respondents had not protected the rights to human dignity and life of the learners enrolled at the school.
Among their list of findings‚ the SAHRC said the respondents had failed to take measures to protect the learners‚ even locking the doors to their residence from outside. The commission said there was a systemic noncompliance with the minimum building‚ safety and fire standards for residential facilities in special schools in North West. This included Hoërskool Wolmaransstad‚ where the North West School for the Deaf learners were moved to after the fire.
The commission recommended that the SA Council for Educators institute disciplinary proceedings against employees of the North West education department who failed to ensure safety measures were in place at the school.
The HOD of the school was ordered to appoint specialists to give counselling to the families of the deceased learners and those who survived the ordeal.
The SAHRC said it would consult with the police to request that criminal proceedings be initiated against all implicated in those investigations. –