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.

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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

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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

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Law | 14 November 2017

Day 3: Pathologist describes finding faeces in child’s lungs

Michael Komape’s sister breaks down in court

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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

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Law | 16 November 2017

Day 5: Psychologist describes suffering of drowned boy’s family

Mother distant and withdrawn, battles with ongoing sadness and depression

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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

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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.”

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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

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Law | 22 November 2017