EC Education mourns untimely death of 2 learners in OR Tambo District

The Eastern Cape Education Department is mourning the death of two learners from the Gxulu Administrative Area under the OR Tambo Coastal Education District.
One of the learners was in Grade 3 and allegedly committed suicide while the other in Grade 12 was discovered deceased in the room he was renting.
The Provincial Education Department spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, says they have dispatched social workers to provide psychosocial support.
“Upon learning about this, the department activated psychosocial support for both schools. The psychosocial team will provide all the affected learners, teachers and families with debriefing and trauma counselling. The department believes this will equip them to deal with these incidents of losing their children. MEC Gade sends his heartfelt condolences to both families.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Education in Gauteng is reeling after the death of a Grade 9 boy from Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, Carletonville on Thursday.

MEDIA STATEMENT | Gauteng Education MEC @matomekopano is devastated by the death of a Grade 9 boy from Badirile Secondary School in Khutsong, Carletonville today, who was allegedly stabbed by a Grade 10 learner on school grounds. Police are investigating the incident. pic.twitter.com/MoHAj0uNwE
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) March 12, 2026

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