A one-year-old girl from the Yena family drowned in a pit latrine at a creche in Sidwadweni village outside Tsolo. The family says this is the second such death at a school in two years.
The toddler was allegedly seen by a three-year-old walking towards the latrine. Teachers at the creche later found the child after another youngster reported seeing something like a doll in the pit.
Yonela, the family spokesperson, described the trauma. “This is very painful because two years ago my sister’s 7-year-old died at the school premises and this is the second one to die like this,” Yonela said.
The Khula Community Development organisation called for accountability. Director Petros Majola questioned how the child could reach the latrine unsupervised and urged a full investigation.
Private sector groups have begun work to remove pit latrines from schools in the province.
