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Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says his department will not close down Parktown Boys’ High School despite the bad reputation that the school has garnered following the death of Enock Mpianzi.
Lesufi announced this on Tuesday at a memorial service for the 13-year-old who drowned during a school orientation camp.
“In terms of academics, your school remains one of the best. No matter the amount of bad publicity you attract, you remain the best school regardless of all the insults. I want to make it clear that the school will not be shut down,” Lesufi said.
Parents have expressed concern about the safety of their children while in the care of teachers, since Mpianzi went missing during an orientation camp last week.
The 13-year-old boy’s body was found in the Crocodile River by search-and-rescue teams on January 17.
He drowned during a water activity which he and other boys created their own rafts to cross the river.
Lesufi urged the students to speak up and not to adhere to a code of silence.
Parktown Boys has been slammed for allegedly keeping information from parents and telling children to not share details about the tragedy.
Lesufi told a media conference that his department had intervened in 2018 to try to eradicate a “culture of silence” about abuse at the school.
“I urge you, if you have something to say, speak. I will protect you,” said Lesufi.
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