Klapmuts – A month after the tragic death of eight-year-old Matthew Baartman at Klapmuts Primary School, Western Cape police have confirmed that the cause of death was electrocution. This revelation contradicts earlier statements made by the Western Cape Education Department, which had claimed that investigations found no electrical faults at the school site.
The police confirmation has intensified grief and raised serious questions about potential negligence, as well as the accuracy of the education department's initial assessment. Constable Ndakhe Gwala, a police spokesperson, stated that an inquest into Matthew's death has been registered.
"The death of the eight-year-old boy was a result of an electric shock, and our investigations continue," Gwala told News24. "Police are also looking at the possibility that negligence may have played a role in the boy’s death at the school, but this will be determined as the investigation unfolds."
Matthew died on 23 January after reportedly drinking water from an outside tap at the school, located near allegedly faulty electrical cables. The police have confirmed that Matthew died at the school, not at the clinic where school officials initially took him.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier addressed social media speculation regarding an electricity connection.
Maynier stated that the school dismissed learners after the incident, and an assessment team, including an electrical contractor, was on site that afternoon to investigate claims of live wires or electrical connections. "No evidence could be found to support the claim, and the school reopened [the following] Monday with full attendance," he said.
The Education Department's initial findings have now been directly contradicted by the police investigation, raising concerns about the thoroughness of the department's assessment and the safety protocols in place at the school.
News24 approached the Western Cape Education Department for comment on Tuesday, following the police's findings.
Bronagh Hammond, the department’s spokesperson, responded that they await formal notification from police on the outcome of the investigation.
"We recognise the profound concern that this incident has caused and remain committed to supporting the school during this difficult time," said Hammond. "As previously indicated, WCED officials – together with an electrical contractor – visited the school on the day of the incident. No evidence of live wires or electrical connections was found during this inspection."
Hammond added that the department had been fully cooperating with the police throughout their investigation, including efforts to determine the cause of death. "We await formal notification from SAPS once their investigation is concluded, and they have confirmed that the matter remains ongoing and is still an inquest," she said.
The department confirmed that a section of the school was temporarily cordoned off as part of the investigation.
Hammond explained: "This was a precautionary safety measure to ensure that all relevant authorities could conduct their inquiries thoroughly and without obstruction." She added that, as these processes fall under the respective mandates of those entities, the WCED cannot comment on their internal procedures or timelines.
Adding to the family's distress, Matthew’s mother, Sonia, revealed that she learnt about the police findings from neighbours, rather than from officials.
"On Monday, it was exactly a month since my son died, and my emotions are all over the place. All I want to do is just sleep because the reality of him never coming back is overwhelming. I don’t think I can come to terms with it yet," Sonia said, weeping.
She had recently celebrated her 37th birthday without her son.
"It was very emotional. He was always the one to get up early and make me a sandwich on my birthday and put a candle on it. Then mommy lights it and blows it out while he sings for me," she recalled.
Earlier this month, there were no candles or birthday songs. Instead, Sonia spent the day in bed, longing for her child and watching some of his favourite cartoons.
"I miss him so much; his absence is felt every day. It was because of Matthew that I started learning to speak much more English because he was thriving in it at school," she said.
Sonia expressed her deep hurt at having to learn about the cause of her son's death from neighbours. "At least someone from the department or the police could have called me and told me before telling the media. I buried my child, not knowing the exact cause of death. The least they could have done was have the decency to inform me," she said.
She added that life will never be the same for the family. "How do I move on when my son is never coming back? Every day is a struggle to wake up and carry on without him calling me. But I’m learning to take things one day at a time," Sonia concluded.
The police investigation is ongoing, and the focus remains on determining whether negligence played a role in Matthew's death. The community awaits answers and accountability, as the tragic loss of a young life has exposed potential failures in safety measures and communication.
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