R2.8 Million Ruling Sends A Clear Message On School Safety In The North West

When parents drop their children off at school each morning, there is an unspoken trust that those gates close behind them in safety. For one North West family, that trust was shattered in a moment that has now led to a landmark court ruling.

The North West High Court in Mahikeng has ordered the provincial Department of Education to pay just over R2.8 million in damages to a mother whose young son was stabbed in the eye by another learner while at school. The injury left the child permanently blind in one eye and changed the course of his life forever.

Court Finds Education Authorities Fully Liable

The court found that the education department was 100 percent responsible for what happened at Seraleng Primary School, citing inadequate supervision by teachers at the time of the incident.

This latest ruling focused on the amount of compensation after an earlier judgment had already confirmed liability. Medical specialists, psychologists and other experts provided detailed reports outlining the extent of the child’s injuries and the long-term impact on his development, education and mental health.

The court stressed that schools have a legal duty to actively supervise learners and create an environment where children are protected from harm, not just academically supported.

A Promising Young Life Altered In Seconds

At the time of the stabbing, the boy, identified only as O, was in Grade 3. According to testimony, he was a bright learner who consistently achieved strong academic results and loved playing soccer with his friends.

That version of childhood disappeared after the attack.

He permanently lost vision in his left eye and now wears a prosthesis. Experts told the court that the injury is irreversible and that his appearance has changed in a way that has made him deeply self-conscious.

Long-term psychological care was recommended to help him cope with trauma, social withdrawal and the emotional impact of the injury.

A Mother’s Account Of A Chaotic Day

The child’s mother described receiving a distressing phone call from an unfamiliar teacher telling her to rush to the school because her son had been injured. Living in Rustenburg Kloof, with limited access to transport, she asked a relative to fetch him and take him to a clinic.

What she encountered there still haunts her. The child arrived with toilet paper covering his injured eye and cried uncontrollably as nurses tried to clean it. He was later transferred to hospital, where surgery confirmed the devastating reality that his sight could not be saved.

Since then, she told the court, her son’s school performance has dropped, he no longer socialises with friends and spends much of his time sleeping. At home, she has replaced glass items with plastic because he struggles with depth perception and often drops objects.

Financial Support With Long-Term Planning

As part of the ruling, the court ordered that the R2.8 million award be placed in a trust to be managed on the child’s behalf. The funds may be used to support his education, medical needs and therapy.

The court also noted that while the school had offered the option of private schooling, there are government schools with specialised support services that could also assist him, depending on his mother’s choice.

A Broader Conversation About School Safety

The case has sparked strong reactions online, with many South Africans expressing anger and heartbreak that a child could suffer such life-altering harm during school hours.

On social media, parents have questioned supervision standards at public schools, while others have called for stricter safety protocols and clearer accountability for educators and education departments.

Beyond the compensation, the ruling sends a clear message. Schools are not just places of learning. They are spaces where children are owed protection, care and vigilance. When that duty fails, the consequences are not only legal but lifelong.

{Source:IOL}

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