Call for charging of Laerskool Queenswood officials for failure to ensure Latoya’s safety

Independent law firm, Nchupetsang Attorneys, has found possible negligence on the part of Laerskool Queenswood principal and the school’s educators.

The firm revealed its findings in Johannesburg, three months after it was tasked by the Gauteng Education Department to investigate the circumstances of the drowning of 12-year-old Latoya Temilton.

It has recommended that the principal and educators be charged for contravening Section 32(1)(a) of the Children’s Act, which placed a duty on them to ensure the Latoya’s well-being while she was in their care.

It’s also called for them to be charged for misconduct for failing to act in accordance with their legal duty to supervise and ensure the 12-year-old’s safety.

The pre-teen tragically drowned while attending a school leadership camp at Wag n Bietjie resort in January.

The firm’s attorney, Meshack Nchupetsang, was flanked by Gauteng Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, when he announced that they also found contributory negligence on the part of Latoya and her parents for packing a swimming gear for the 12-year-old despite knowing she couldn’t swim.

The school’s invitation had indicated that the excursion had swimming activities.

In the following clip, Attorney Nchupetsang outlines further findings of their investigations.

The post-mortem report confirms that Latoya’s died from drowning.

Chiloane says the report highlights areas where improvements are needed to ensure the safety of learners and they are committed to implementing the law firm’s comprehensive recommendations to prevent the recurrence of such “regrettable and unfortunate incidents in the future.”