Police to investigate death of child (5)

The police are investigating an incident where a five-year-old boy from Dzanani village in Nzhelele died inside the vehicle of a school teacher.

The tragic incident apparently happened after the child, who used to go to school with the teacher, was left inside the car on Monday morning. The child's death may have been caused by the excessive heat inside the locked vehicle. 

The 58-year-old Vhutuwangadzebu Primary School teacher allegedly forgot that there was a child inside the vehicle. She apparently went to teach and only returned to the vehicle later that day.

According to the police report, the teacher went home with the deceased child still inside her vehicle. She apparently only realised that the boy was still there when she went to park her car in the garage and collect some of her belongings which were left inside the vehicle. The shocked and traumatized teacher immediately alerted the police.

The police spokesperson, W/O Edward Tharaga, said parents should watch out for incidents similar to this one, especially during the festive season. He added that during the festive season elders often travel with children and choose to leave them inside a locked vehicle when they go shopping. “When they go to the shops, they must leave with their children and not leave them behind inside locked vehicles. Even old unused fridges should be kept away from children to avoid such incidents,” he added.

Date:28 November 2014

By: Phathutshedzo Luvhengo

Read: 2060