Right to Education: Parents sue education minister after their son fell in school’s toilet and died

Michael Komape died in 2014 when he fell into the toilet on 20 January, 2014 at the Mahlodumela Primary School in the northern Limpopo province.

Parents of a 5-year-old South African boy who died after he fell into a pit latrine while in school have sued the Ministry of Basic Education after the Department of Basic Education denied responsibility for his death.

Michael Komape died in 2014 when he fell into the toilet on 20 January, 2014 at the Mahlodumela Primary School in the northern Limpopo province.

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According to the BBC, Michael’s mother, Rosina Komape said she “could see his whole arm but could not see the rest of his body" and she fainted after that.

When the incident happened, former Limpopo Education chief Dikeledi Magadzi told local broadcaster ENCA "I am not the MEC [Member of Executive Council] of toilets... I am not God".

The BBC reports that the deceased’s parents have sued the Limpopo education ministry and the school principal, arguing they acted negligently or in violation of learners' constitutional right to a basic education.

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In the suit, they are demanding three million rand ($210,000; £160,000) for trauma, grief, medical expenses, funeral costs and lack of earnings.

Rosina said she lost her job as a result of the trauma she had suffered from the incident.

Michael Komape died in 2014 when he fell into the toilet on 20 January, 2014 at the Mahlodumela Primary School in the northern Limpopo province. Read Full Story