Two Gauteng families are in mourning after two pupils from the Daveyton Skills School in Benoni drowned in the Hennops River on Monday during a school excursion.

The Tshwane emergency services department received a call at about 15:00 to report the drowning incident.

On arrival they found that two boys aged between 13 and 16 years of age had drowned.

The Gauteng Education Department says according to their information, the two learners were attending a ”discipline camp” held by the non-governmental organisation Rising Stars Generation, at the Rock Falls Adventure Ranch from Friday, 12 April and were scheduled to return on Monday.

But after activities had been concluded on Monday afternoon, one of the learners apparently ran towards the nearby river close to the campsite entrance.

A second learner followed in an attempt to bring him back.

The Department says the learner who ran off jumped into the river, prompting the second learner to try and rescue him.

However, both learners unfortunately drowned as a result.

The incident was reported to Emergency Medical Services and police, who managed to recover their bodies.

The Department’s Psycho-Social Support Unit will be dispatched to the school to provide necessary trauma support and counselling.

“We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate deaths of our learners during a school excursion. On behalf of the Department, we wish to extend our sincerest condolences to their respective families and the Daveyton Skills School community,” said MEC Matome Chiloane.

Chiloane will visit Daveyton Skills School on Wednesday, 17 April.

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