A Gauteng family is suing the provincial department of education for R8 million after a nine-year-old boy was burnt with a dangerous chemical obtained from an “unlocked” school laboratory. It is alleged that then seven-year-old Onkarabile Thobowa and other 25 pupils from Phororong Primary School in Khutsong, on the West Rand, were at a colouring event hosted by the school when they ran out of paint and went straight to the laboratory. They apparently took a dangerous chemical thinking it was a paint and smeared one another with it.
After the incident, all the children sustained minor injuries, while Onkarabile was badly burnt and recently doctors confirmed that one of his ears had been permanently damaged and he now had to use a hearing aid. Also read: West Rand pupil, 9, burnt in lab accident still suffering Department sued Onkarabile’s mother, Beauty Thobowa, told The Citizen the family decided to take legal action after realising the department was not taking responsibility for what happened to the boy. “Yes, it is true that we are launching litigation against the department of education for the damages caused by their negligence,” said Thobowa.
“Our legal representatives have already sent them a letter of demand and they have not yet indicated whether they are willing to attend to the issue. We will then continue with the lawsuit.” Thobowa believed that if the department assisted the family to take the boy to a private health institution or specialist, the d.
