Nearly two weeks after the tragic death of an 8-year-old Klapmuts boy on school premises, police are not yet in a position to provide a public update on the cause of his death.

After arriving at school on the morning of Friday, 23 January 2026, an unknown incident occurred which resulted in Matthew being rushed to the Klapmuts Clinic, where he was sadly declared deceased.

According to Matthew’s distraught mother, who spoke to News24, some parents and a few of Matthew’s friends said that he was electrocuted due to exposed wiring near an outside tap where he was drinking water.

But the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has since confirmed that, immediately after these reports emerged, an assessment team, including an electrical contractor, visited the site and found no evidence of live wires or faulty electrical connections.

Provincial health department spokesperson Shimoney Regter said a post-mortem has been conducted but did not provide any further information, referring the media to the police.

The police released a short statement saying the matter is still under investigation and there are no new developments to report at this stage.

The WCED conveyed condolences to the family, confirming that the department’s district team would assist the school community, including the deployment of social workers, psychologists and the circuit manager.

Klapmuts Primary School Principal Lee Hoffmann posted on social media the day after the tragic incident that the school community was deeply affected by Matthew’s death.

“We earnestly appeal that the family be treated with dignity, respect and compassion as they grieve the loss of their beloved child. At this stage, the exact cause of the incident cannot yet be confirmed, as extensive investigations are currently underway. It is of paramount importance that these processes are allowed to take their full course so that the facts can be thoroughly and responsibly established.”

Hoffmann appealed to parents and members of the community to refrain from sharing or spreading speculation and unverified information on social media platforms.

“Our focus should currently be on the loss of a young life and supporting each other during this time.”