Cape Town Mother Sues School for Over R500k Following Son's Severe Playground Injury

In a recent legal development within the Western Cape's education sector, a concerned Cape Town mother has instituted a half-million rand lawsuit against a Montessori school in Somerset West. This legal action stems from an incident that took place on the school's playground, which, according to the mother's lawyer, has caused her son significant harm.

The boy allegedly endured a dangerous fall on February 29 while at play, resulting in multiple fractures to his leg. Robyn Siljeur, the family's attorney, has made it known that the painful episode was supposedly captured on the school's surveillance system. Despite this, accessibility to the footage has been firmly denied by the educational institution, leaving the mother bereft of any semblance of clarification as to what exactly transpired during her child's playtime.

Following the accident, the young child's struggle with ongoing pain and discomfort prompted a visit to a general practitioner, who initially diagnosed the issue as a mild tissue injury. Nevertheless, the pain's persistence led to an escalating sense of urgency and discomfort, and on March 2, the mother sought further medical intervention. It was at the emergency room of a private hospital where the revelation of three fractures came to light through an X-ray. This diagnosis necessitated a cast and an entire month's absence from school for the injured child.

The mother's request for the CCTV footage came after she attended a school meeting and was provided with an accident report. However, her plea for more information was starkly rejected, leaving her in the dark about the specifics of her son's injury. This lack of transparency is reflected in the legal documents, highlighting a communication breakdown between parent and school.

Generation Schools, the management of the Montessori school involved, has opted to maintain silence on the matter, citing ongoing legal proceedings as the reason for their non-disclosure.

This high-stakes legal confrontation underscores critical issues surrounding school safety measures, the rights of parents to be fully informed about incidents affecting their children, and the broader responsibilities that educational institutions have towards the pupils in their care. As the lawsuit progresses, the community's attention on student welfare and institutional accountability intensifies.