Health sued for R8m

Doctors confirm acid damaged inner part of boy's ear, says mother.

- Masoka Dube

Gauteng family is suing the provincial department of education for R8 million after a nine-year-old boy was burnt with a dangerous chemical obtained from an "unlocked" school laboratory.

It is alleged that then seven-year-old Onkarabile Thobowa and other 25 pupils from Phororong Primary School in Khutsong, on the West Rand, were at a colouring event hosted by the school when they ran out of paint and went straight to the laboratory.

They apparently took a dangerous chemical thinking it was a paint and smeared one another with it.

After the incident, all the children sustained minor injuries, while Onkarabile was badly burnt and recently doctors confirmed that one of his ears had been permanently damaged and he now had to use a hearing aid.

Onkarabile's mother, Beauty Thobowa, told The Citizen the family decided to take legal action after realising the department was not taking responsibility for what happened to the boy.