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Probe into death of boy (8) at Klapmuts Primary
Cape Argus
|January 26, 2026
PROVINCIAL MEC for Education, David Maynier, has cautioned the public against speculating that an electricity connection caused the death of an eight-year-old boy at Klapmuts Primary School but said its involvement would be investigated.
MATTHEW Baartman Supplied
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, has since confirmed that a postmortem would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
“Klapmuts police have registered an inquest to investigate following an incident at a primary school in Klapmuts involving an eight-year-old boy on Friday, January 23, at about 7.45am. The victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment, where he was declared deceased”
A post on social media claiming the boy, identified as Matthew Baartman, drank water from a tap and then touched an electrical wire went viral.
GOOD Stellenbosch Municipality councillor Marius van Stade called for a thorough investigation and for accountability and transparency.
This story is from the January 26, 2026 edition of Cape Argus.
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