Probe launched into death of five-year-old boy allegedly struck by scholar transport
THE POLICE are probing a case of culpable homicide following an incident in which a five-year-old boy was allegedly knocked down by a scholar transporter on Monday.
The incident happened outside Phiwokuhle Qophelo Nzuza’s school, Orissa Primary School, in Isipingo, south of Durban, which left fellow pupils and teachers shaken.
Phiwokuhle’s father, Sphamandla Shozi, recounted the tragic event, and alleged foul play, based on how the matter was being handled and called for a comprehensive investigation.
Shozi said he received a call from the school informing him that Phiwokuhle had been hit by a car, and the teachers were preparing to transport him to a hospital.
“However, after 15 minutes, we (together with the child’s mother) got another call, this time telling us to go to my son’s school. When we arrived at the school, we found children all around the school gate area. There was no danger tape showing that there had been a car accident.”
He said: “The security guard told us to go to the staff room. When we arrived there, we found police officers, maybe more than eight of them and teachers.”
When he saw what appeared to be a motionless body lying on the ground covered with a blanket, he rushed and pulled the blanket off and his worst fears were confirmed.
“I did not see any serious injuries, but my son was lying there dead. I saw bruises on his arm and the head. I thought he was not injured, but he was foaming at the mouth and nose. Then, I realised that my child was dead,” remarked Shozi.
He said the teachers told him that his son was struck by a vehicle, which was a scholar transporter.
However, when asked if anyone knew the driver or had taken the registration number, he did not get a convincing answer.
“The problem we are facing as a family is these people (teachers and police) are saying different things. We don't know why they didn't rush him to the hospital because the school is close to Isipingo Hospital. Why did they put the child inside the school and sit with him until he died?"
The grieving father called for a thorough investigation, which he hoped would unearth “the real reason” of his son’s death.
“We do not know who is the driver that drove into our child. They have never told us, which proves that there is something sinister happening here."
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the investigations were underway.
“Police in Isipingo are investigating a case of culpable homicide following an incident in which a five-year-old boy was allegedly knocked down by a vehicle on Citrus Drive, Orient Park, on February 24. The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated.”
The department of education did not respond to questions sent to its spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi by the time of publication.
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