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Later, police were called and Lizo and
Solly were interviewed. Malcolm Wil-
liams, the school’s headmaster – who’s
since been placed on “precautionary sus-
pension” – ordered the boys not to speak
to anyone else about the incident.
The camp issued a statement claiming
the school hadn’t done a roll call. It said
that once it had been established that
eight learners hadn’t come on the camp,
the school contacted their parents and
only then was it confirmed Enock was
missing.
E
XPERTS and commentators
agree the camp and the school
must be held accountable for
Enock’s death.
Sara Black, a Cape Town-
based education researcher,
the scene where he died are (from left) his aunt
says the children weren’t properly taken RIGHT: Enock’s grieving mother, Anto. ABOVE: A
Sandra Boketshu, mom Anto, aunt Elie Kodiemo
care of, adding that “a culture of toxic uncle Fabien Isolo and family friend Akim Kayim
masculinity and initiations at former At the back is Enock’s eldest brother, Yves Kadil
model-Candprivateschools”alsoneeds
to be examined. Mabote, a commentator and journal-
“Everyone knows these schools have ist, accused the headmaster of being education department appointed an in-
formal or informal initiations of the “tasteless” when he told learners not to dependent law firm to investigate the
youngones,anditneedstobeunpacked. talk about the drowning. matter.
“It’s wrong that they have a mentality “You asked the boys to participate in “The investigation is being conducted
of ‘making boys into secrecy and deceit. with urgency,” the MEC said. “However,
men’, or that boys ‘There’s a culture of Is this what you are due to the traumatic nature of this inci-
shouldn’t cry or want forcing boys to toughen bequeathing to our dent, no undue pressure will be placed
life jackets because boys? Are these the on any of the witnesses.”
‘that’s for sissies’. up, and it’s wrong’ leadersyou’reprepar- Lesufi also revealed that the school
“There’s a culture of ing for tomorrow?” applied to the district office to approve
forcing boys to toughen up, and it’s He went on to say that South Africans the trip. “However, by the time the school
wrong. It also begs the question, ‘What are beginning to associate Parktown embarked on the trip, the district and
kindofmenwillbemadeoutoftheseex- Boys’ High with “crisis and grime, bad head office had not approved the trip,
ercises? What’s the purpose of these culture and poor leadership”. thus making the trip an unauthorised
camps and what are they meant to Shutting down the school isn’t an activity.”
achieve?’ ” option, department spokesman Elijah For this reason, headmaster Williams
Black says it’s clear the school and the Mhlanga says. was “served with a letter of precaution-
camp ignored basic safety regulations. “We’re saddened by this, but closing a ary suspension in order for the investiga-
“It’s unacceptable that they weren’t school is a process and requires proce- tion to proceed without hindrance”.
able to tell between an absent and a dures to be followed.” District officials who have a case to
missing child. This wasn’t the first camp answer for have also been suspended,
ESUFI, in a wide-ranging state- Lesufi added.
LUBABALO LESOLLE, GALLO IMAGES/SOWETAN/ANTONIO MUCHAVE, SUPPLIED the school had sent learners to, nor was
it the first time this camp had hosted ment released seven days after Getting to the bottom of what hap-
suchagroupoflearners.Withallthatex- Enock’s death, said, “Tough pened is the primary motivation of the
perience, standard safety measures questions have been asked – investigation to ensure that “all those af-
shouldhavebeeninplaceandfollowed.” and rightly so – about whether fected by this sad reality find closure, but
Rams Mabote, a Parktown HighLParktown Boys’ High and the more importantly to ensure incidents
parent, wrote a hard-hitting open letter campexercisedareasonabledutyofcare like this are avoided”.
to the headmaster in which he said in ensuring the health and safety of the Mabote said Enock deserves the truth,
Enock’s death was “a classic case of toxic Grade 8 boys. even if it’s too late for him. “You should
masculinity”. “What has also emerged from media have done better,” he said in his letter to
“A boy disappears (and later dies) and reports is the inconsistency of facts the school. “You can still do better.” S
all the men in charge of the boys agree and that there may have been serious *Not their real names
on a brotherhood of silence and a con- negligence on the part of the school and S Understanding indemnity – see next page
spiracy of lies – if not by commission, the camp.”
certainly by omission,” it reads. The inconsistencies are the reason the EXTRA SOURCES: EWN.CO.ZA, DAILYMAVERICK.CO.ZA,
TIMESLIVE.CO.ZA, 702
you.co.za 6 FEBRUARY 2020 | 17
