Parents alarmed as Kimberley pupils suffer mysterious fainting spells after camp

PARENTS of children at a Kimberley primary school have pleaded with the Northern Cape Department of Education to intervene after their children began experiencing unexplained fainting spells following a camp near Barkly West from September 19 to 21.

A meeting was held with district officials on Wednesday, as parents — now at their wits’ end — expressed concern that their children may not be able to write their exams or complete the syllabus before the end of the year.

They said they were unaware of the purpose of the trip and only later discovered that it had not been authorised by the department.

“We were under the impression that it was a fun, educational trip. Had we known what would happen, we would never have agreed to send our children,” the parents said.

A mother of a Grade 5 pupil said she was never informed that her 11-year-old daughter — who had been in perfect health — started collapsing during the camp.

“After her return, she fainted several times. I rushed her to the hospital when she fainted at school and was unconscious for about 10 minutes. She collapsed again at the hospital and was treated in the intensive care unit. All the brain and heart scans, and the blood, sugar and urine tests were clear — there was no conclusive medical explanation for her collapsing,” said the distraught mother.

She said she eventually consulted a pastor, who prayed for her child.

“I found out later that it was a religious camp. My child told me that rituals were performed at the camp, where they were taken into the veld at 10pm and told to repent. Prayers and devotions were recited, and hands were laid on their heads and stomachs. They were also given medication without the consent of parents or guardians.”

She added that, despite counselling provided by social workers, the children were still experiencing fainting episodes.

“The affected Grade 5 pupils are among the top 10 academic achievers at the school and are placed in different classes. We do not know if they will manage to pass the year because of the fainting episodes. 

“We also cannot transfer them to another school, as it is almost the end of the term. Our children are not safe at school. We requested intervention from the MEC for Education and district officials three weeks ago, but since then, nothing has improved.”

Another worried mother said she had been saddled with high medical bills after her medical aid was exhausted.

“I keep having to take my child to the hospital. I don’t care how much I have to pay — I just want my child to be well again. Whoever is responsible must come and account. We are too anxious to go to work for fear that our children may collapse.”

Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe confirmed that a group of pupils attended a camp that had not been authorised by the department or the district office.

“While indemnity forms were signed by parents, the school failed to follow the required procedures as prescribed by relevant legislation and departmental policy. Following reports that some learners collapsed and fainted, the department immediately engaged with the affected learners and their parents,” he said.

Van der Merwe added that the department was in the process of securing a meeting with the camp organisers to gather more information before determining the appropriate course of action.

“In the interim, the department has made Employee Support Services available to provide counselling and support to both pupils and their families,” he concluded.

Efforts to contact the organisers of the camp were unsuccessful, as it remains unclear who arranged the trip. The DFA will report further once more details emerge.