By REGINALD KANYANE
A former Grade 12 learner at Leruntse Lesedi Secondary School in Makwassie, near Wolmaranstad, North West who was declared dead said he demands answers from the North West Department of Education.
Thabo Nicholas Monyane (21) alleged that the department declared him dead after the passing of another learner who carried the same name as his.
The confusion was created by the death of another learner, Thabo Monywabe who passed away in June 2022. Now, Monyane said he wants justice to prevail because this mess has plunged him into depression.
“I did not even receive a letter of admission to writing including the examination number. I was asked to use my identification document as proof every time I write.
“What hurt me the most is that, I was secluded from other Grade 12 learners whenever writing my exams. This made other Grade 12 learners to mock me and hurl insults toward me by calling me an illegal foreigner,” he said.
Monyane, who was doing Mathematics Literacy, Geography, English, Setswana, Afrikaans, and History as subjects said, he wanted to further his studies at university and become a teacher one day.
“However, I am stuck now because of this mess. The matric final examination results were out on 20 January 2023, but I only received mine three weeks after that. I was not happy at all with my results because they were too bad. I do not even think those are my results because I studied so hard,” he said.
Thabo’s mother, Martha Monyane shared the same sentiments. Martha said the whole fiasco has affected her son badly.
“He is always indoors because he does not want to face people. This situation has caused confusion in our lives and I do not even know how to handle it anymore. We understand that, the learner who passed away, was reported dead in June 2022.
“As a parent, I was made aware of this matter when we were called to sign pledge forms in September 2022. The teacher who informed me about this matter said, my child might not be able to write his final examinations due to the mixed-up of the death of another learner,” she said.
Martha said, however, the school promised to sort the mess out, but nothing has been done.
“They have only instructed my son to re-write his final examinations. Thabo fainted at school while writing his final examinations. He was taken to the clinic but ordered back to the school to finish his paper, which I think was inhumane.
“He was also secluded from other learners while writing his final examinations. I asked the school why my child is being separated from other learners, but I did not receive a straight answer,” said Martha.
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Education spokesman, Elias Malindi said investigations into the matter are underway.
The Guardian 