Michael Komape trial
Michael Komape fell into a pit toilet at his school on 20 January 2014, and drowned. His parents are suing the state for approximately R3 million. They also want to compel the state to provide decent sanitation at schools across Limpopo Province.
Here are GroundUp's reports from the court case.
Preview: Parents of drowned child seek justice
Michael Komape died in a toilet at school. Now James and Rosina Komape are going to court to compel the state to provide decent sanitation to schools across Limpopo.
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 12 November 2017
Day 1: Mother tells court how she found her son dead in school toilet
First day in damages trial of the death of Michael Komape
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 13 November 2017
Day 2: State attempts to discredit parents in Michael Komape trial
Advocate asks if death of five-year-old who drowned in toilet was any different from death by sickness or car accident
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 14 November 2017
Day 3: Pathologist describes finding faeces in child’s lungs
Michael Komape’s sister breaks down in court
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 15 November 2017
Day 4: State claims family wants to get rich out of Michael Komape’s death
SECTION27 accuses state lawyer and Department of Education of attempting to trivialise the family’s suffering
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 16 November 2017
Day 5: Psychologist describes suffering of drowned boy’s family
Mother distant and withdrawn, battles with ongoing sadness and depression
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 17 November 2017
Day 6: Court hears of terrible condition of Limpopo’s school toilets
Photographs shows that the school toilets where Michael Komape died were in poor condition
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 20 November 2017
Day 7: Limpopo education department a “quagmire” of maladministration
“We drew attention to life-threatening situations in schools … it is not good enough to say there is no budget.”
By Ciaran Ryan
News | 21 November 2017
Day 8: Education department had funds to fix toilet in which Michael Komape drowned
Expert witness gives damning testimony against Limpopo government
By Ciaran Ryan
Law | 22 November 2017