Pretoria - The Head of the Gauteng Department of Education, Boy Ngobeni, will be establishing an independent investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of a learner at a school.
A Grade 10 learner at Springs Girls High was discovered, on Thursday afternoon hanging in a room attached to the school hall, by a general assistant who was locking up.
The South African Police Service and paramedics were called and she was declared dead.
Department spokesperson, Charles Phahlane, said that it is not clear at this stage what led to the apparent suicide as there were no learners present at the school as it was long after school had ended.
"A delegation led by the chief director of the Ekurhuleni cluster is visiting the family tonight [Thursday] to convey the condolences of the department, a team of psychologists will visit the school tomorrow [today] to assist learners and educators affected by this tragedy," Phahlane said.
The department extended its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the learner for what it called a shocking loss and urged learners, if they needed someone to talk to, to phone Lifeline on 0861 322 322.
