Mother awarded R2.8 million after child blinded in school stabbing

The MEC for Education in the North West Province must pay slightly more than R2.8 million to the mother of a child who was stabbed in the eye by a fellow learner at school.

The North West High Court, sitting in Mahikeng, earlier ruled that the education authorities are 100% liable for the child’s injuries as there was inadequate supervision by the teachers when the incident occurred.

The matter was now back in court to determine the amount of damages to be awarded. A host of medical and other experts submitted reports to the court regarding the boy’s injuries and his prognosis.

The court was informed that the child, who was injured while attending Seraleng Primary School, was a smart boy who consistently achieved high academic marks. His injury, however, has now left him blind in one eye. In awarding R2.8 million in damages, the school arranged for him to attend a private school if his mother chose to do so.

The court, however, pointed out that there are several supporting services available to him if he attends a government school. The money will be kept in a trust and managed on his behalf. The boy, in Grade 3 at the time and only identified as O, sustained severe injuries to his left eye during school hours when a fellow learner stabbed him in the eye.

His mother is blaming the incident on non-supervision at the time of the incident. The court agreed with her submissions that it is the department’s legal duty to provide control and supervision of learners that would create and maintain a safe environment for the children.

The mother said that on the day of the incident, she received a call from an unknown teacher who asked her to rush to school as O was injured. She was waiting for transport from Rustenburg Kloof to Seraleng, as transport is scarce. She asked the aunt to fetch the child and to take him to the clinic.

When the child arrived at the clinic, the mother noticed toilet paper on O’s eye with what she called a black substance. The child cried bitterly while nurses tried to clean his eye. He was later taken to the hospital, where he underwent an operation. It was confirmed that he had permanently lost vision in one eye.

The mother testified that he was a playful child before the accident and enjoyed playing soccer with his friends. He was doing well at school, but his academic performance has since declined.

According to the mother, O no longer has friends and spends a lot of time sleeping. She said that due to his poor eyesight, he drops everything he holds, and she had to replace most of her glass items in the house with plastic.

An occupational therapist described the child as self-conscious about his presentation, with particular reference to his left eye, where he is wearing a prosthesis.

According to the expert opinions, O is permanently and irreversibly blind as a result of the penetrating eye injury that he suffered and the initial treatment of the injury.

His appearance has changed, and he is now self-conscious about the asymmetry of his eyes in terms of both size and movement. Long-term psychological treatment was recommended.

zelda.venter@inl.co.za