In the wake of the tragedy, the North-West University’s (NWU) campus in Vanderbijlpark has joined the legion of caregivers, professional bodies, corporate companies and the public at large in assisting the school community to embark on its journey to emotional healing.
On Wednesday, 13 February, staff and students from the NWU’s Faculty of Education undertook the overwhelming task to clean-up the school fence. Here parents, learners and members of the community hung wreaths, messages of support, framed photos, teddy bears, autographed school uniforms, ribbons, candles and wooden crosses in memory of the four students who succumbed to the tragedy.
The team of volunteers gathered in front of the school at 08:00 and after a group prayer, set about cleaning up the fence, sorting the memorabilia and removing the candlewax from the sidewalk.
Prof Lloyd Conley, the executive dean of the Faculty of Education, joined in the clean-up project and said that as professional educators the faculty undoubtedly feel a special empathy with all those affected.
“Besides working with children every day and being parents ourselves, we can only imagine the shock, grief and despair felt by this school community.” He added that the faculty aims to assist the school in every possible way to come to terms with this traumatic event.
One of the BEd students helping with the clean-up project, Tiisetso Thokoa, said he volunteered for the project because a tragedy such as this one unites a community. “It teaches us that we are all part of something bigger and that we were created to serve alongside each other. By doing so, we can make a lasting impact.”
Several BEd students volunteered to take part in the project.
A job well done. Staff and students from the NWU’s Faculty of Education after the clean-up project at Hoërskool Driehoek.
Prof Lloyd Conley (right), the executive dean of the Faculty of Education, also rolled-up his sleeves to assist in the clean-up.
* On 1 February, learners from Hoërskool Driehoek were leaving the morning assembly to go to their respective class rooms when tragedy struck and a walkway collapsed. Three pupils: Roydon Olckers, Jandré Steyn and Marli Currie died at the scene, with a fourth, Marnus Nagel, succumbing to his injuries two days later in hospital. In the wake of the tragedy, the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark has stepped to the fore to assist learners and their families with trauma and posttraumatic counselling.
