Cape Town - Police are investigating the death of a security guard whose body was found in Delft outside Leiden Primary School’s feeding scheme kitchen.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the department was informed about the incident.
Hammond said the school immediately contacted the police and paramedics. They confirmed the 63-year-old employee had indeed passed away, allegedly of natural causes.
"It has been confirmed there are no signs of violence or assault," said Hammond.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said an inquest docket was registered after the body of an adult man was discovered.
Traut said the circumstances surrounding his death were being investigated and no crime was suspected.
Hammond said the body was removed and teaching and learning continued. Learners and staff had been kept away from the scene, and counselling support was provided.
She said the school did not close and it did not send out a notice to collect children. However, a fake social media post was posted which has caused some parents to collect their children from school.
An employee at the school, who did not want to be named, said the security guard used two classes as a resting place, his kierie was found in one of those classrooms.
ANC provincial spokesperson on education, Khalid Sayed, said they were deeply concerned with the high level of secrecy on the part of the WCED around the guard's death where teachers were asked not to speak to the media.
"Transparency would assist all stakeholders in ensuring that learners and staff are safe given the current Covid-19 context," he said.
The death of the security guard comes three weeks after burglars who broke into Woodlands Primary School in Heideveld brutally attacked a security guard. The guard later died, after being found by another security guard who came to relieve him.