Parktown Boys’ High pupil recounts Enoch Mpianzi’s last moments [audio]

The tragedy that befell Parktown Boys’ High pupil, Enoch Mpianzi, is still a trending subject of controversy and on Wednesday morning, Radio 702‘s Eusebius McKaiser published a 13-minute audio clip of an eyewitness who recounted the moments that led up to his classmate’s drowning.

Listen: Eyewitness recounts Enoch Mpianzi’s last moments

It has been a week since Mpianzi disappeared from the Grade 8 orientation camp group that was rafting on the Crocodile River, at Nyati Bush and River Breakaway.

The details offered by the school on how it was only realised a day later that the teen had disappeared did not add up. Mpianzi’s lifeless body was discovered two days later.

The parents of the pupils who were at the orientation camp were only informed of Mpianzi’s disappearance on Thursday, around the same time rescue services were contacted to launch a search for the teen.

However, these accounts clash with that of this Grade 8 pupil, who offered insight into what transpired on that self-made raft on Wednesday afternoon, shortly before Mpianzi disappeared.

From the perspective of the Gauteng Education Department, things have escalated pretty quickly. Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, has confirmed that action will be taken against the leadership of Parktown Boys’ High “within the next 48 hours”.

BREAKING: @Lesufi tells me he is going to take action against the leadership of Parktown Boys High "within the next 48 hours" based on evidence of what has unfolded so far. I will tweet the podcast with the MEC's full reaction/remarks. @Radio702 #ParktownBoysCamp

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) January 22, 2020

Leaked: Indemnity form from school did not include life jackets on list

Some of this evidence, it seems, includes the inconsistency in the school’s statement. It was initially reported that Mpianzi’s drowning could have been avoided if his parents were able to afford a life jacket, suggesting that this was a prerequisite item.

However, an indemnity form that was sent to the parents of the Grade 8 orientation camp has been leaked on social media. It laid out detailed instructions parents were to follow if they wanted their child to be allowed into the bus.

Nowhere was there any mention of a life jacket in the list of items that each pupil needed.

#ParktownBoysCamp – this letter is VERY important. It was sent BEFORE the camp & again shows that no parent (rich or poor) was asked to buy and provide life vests for their sons. (That's apart from the fact that there is a legal duty to provide these on camp anyway). @Radio702 pic.twitter.com/hRnet69gUJ

— Eusebius McKaiser (@Eusebius) January 22, 2020