Vosloorus family is shattered after matric pupil loses her life following a “poison pie” tragedy.
The Moagi family is in shock and deep mourning after their 17-year-old niece, Thandolwethu Moagi, who a matric pupil, passed away at J Dumane Clinic in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni.
ALSO READ | Twenty-three Children have died from food poisoning in Gauteng this year
This followed complaints of severe headache pain.
According to her uncle Kgaugelo Moagi, Thandolwethu was known to family and friends as a bright, jolly, and ambitious pupil.
She began feeling unwell on Wednesday, 4 February, while at Vosloorus Comprehensive Secondary School.
Kgaugelo said at about midday, Thandolwethu called her mum in distress, saying: “Mama, I’m not feeling well. My head hurts, my heart is racing, I think I’m dying.”
He said by mid-afternoon, her condition worsened. Friends called her mum in panic, reporting that Thandolwethu appeared critically ill. Since her mum was not nearby, the family enlisted the help of her aunt, who was working from home.
Eventually, some of her brothers rushed to the school in an Uber. They found Thandolwethu lying on the floor, with foam coming from her mouth, surrounded by friends.
“Shockingly, several school staff—including an educator, administrator, and cleaner—stood by without calling for medical help.”
“He immediately took her to J Dumane Clinic, where medical personnel, including student doctors, tried to stabilise her. Despite their efforts, Thandolwethu passed away within minutes,” he claimed.
Kgaugelo said the family alleged that the tragedy was compounded by the school’s negligence.
“We feel the school failed due to negligence. They did not follow occupational health and safety procedures or provide proper risk measures to save her life.
“The educators present at the school showed little regard for Thandolwethu’s life. When we leave our children at school, we entrust them to the teachers—and they failed her, leading to this devastating loss,” said Kgaugelo.
‘School announced death to pupils first’
Adding to the family’s anger, Kgaugelo said the school reportedly announced Thandolwethu’s death to pupils before informing the family.
“Even more shocking, the principal, who claimed he was not present at the school that day, signed the official incident report acknowledging the event. By signing that report, he indicated he was aware of what happened.”
“Yet the school disclosed her death without consulting us, relying on information from other pupils. We feel deeply wronged. Firstly, they failed to protect our niece, and then they violated our trust,” Kgaugelo said.
The family was only approached by school representatives on Thursday afternoon, 5 February after waiting the entire morning for any communication.
“It was no coincidence. They only reached out after they saw us at the school. We were then told that a delegation had been sent to our home to meet the family.
“What troubled us deeply is that during the meeting at the school, both the principal and the deputy principal were present and addressed us directly.”
“As the leaders of the school, we cannot understand why neither of them went to our home to face the family and speak to us there,” he said.
He said the emotional toll on Thandolwethu’s loved ones has been immense. Her siblings reportedly struggle with sleep and anxiety, and her mum has been inconsolable.
“I hadn’t seen my mother cry like this since we lost my father. I also saw Thandolwethu’s mum completely shattered. Our family feels utterly destroyed,” he said.
Thandolwethu had been eagerly preparing to complete her matric and pursue her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
“On the morning of that fateful incident, she sent me a WhatsApp message asking me to make copies of her birth certificate and school report so I could sign her matric registration form.”
“She was looking forward to finishing school and achieving her dream. Just last year, during Career Day, she dressed as a doctor, and we joked about her future together.”
“She was full of life, always laughing, joking, and enjoying school. Her loss has left an unimaginable void in our lives,” he said.
Kgaugelo claimed that postmortem results reportedly indicated that Thandolwethu died from poisoning.
“Her friends recalled that she had shared a kota that day but had eaten a pie alone, bought from the school tuckshop. This was the only food she ate on her own, raising concerns that food poisoning could have been a factor, especially since four other pupils reportedly fell ill on the same day,” claimed Kgaugelo.
He said the Moagi family is now demanding accountability and transparency from the school.
ALSO READ | 48 Children hospitalized after eating poisoned food
They are calling for a thorough investigation into what they describe as a preventable tragedy.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Steve Mabona said: “We have launched an investigation into this matter.”
