Laerskool Roodekrans teacher Cherani van der Westhuizen died of a suspected asthma attack one day after the schools reopened.
- A Gauteng teacher died one day after the school reopened for the 2023 academic year.
- According to the school’s department head, Cherani van der Westhuizen, 40, died on Thursday after a suspected asthma attack.
- She was a Grade R teacher at Laerskool Roodekrans in Roodepoort.
A week before the school reopened, Laerskool Roodekrans teacher Cherani van der Westhuizen and her classmates made videos talking about how they were excited about the new academic year and meeting their new students.
“Welcome back from the holidays. Are you ready for 2023? I’m teacher Cherani van der Westhuizen from Bunny Class. We are so excited to have you back,” she said in a video posted on the Roodepoort school’s Facebook page.
However, Van der Westhuizen died a day after schools reopened due to a suspected asthma attack, leaving his colleagues devastated.
The 40-year-old had been a Grade R teacher at the school for the past eight years.
The school’s department head, Antoinette Rousseau, said Van der Westhuizen had a lot planned for next year as the new grade head.
“I had many plans. Days before we had a meeting as teachers, and all the time she told us how excited she was about the coming year and that she had many plans.
“Even when she was talking to her daughter, she said, ‘Mommy was so excited for this year.’ It’s so sad that she can’t carry out her plans,” Rousseau added.
According to her, although Van der Westhuizen was not sick, she did have asthma but managed.
Rousseau said his death came after suffering a severe asthma attack.
He added that the news came as a shock when Van der Westhuizen’s mother approached the school.
“His mother was the one who called us to tell us of his passing, and it was a big scare, mainly because we had a parent meeting the night before.
“We talked to her and everything was fine. The next morning her mother called to inform us of her passing. It was a huge shock. She will be sorely missed by all of us.”
Rousseau said:
Us [the school] We’re like a family, and it seems we’ve lost one of our own.
He added that Van der Westhuizen would be remembered as a kind and caring person who was passionate about teaching Grade R students.
News24 contacted Van der Westhuizen’s family, but calls were not returned.
The Gauteng Department of Education had not responded at the time of publication, and your comment will be added upon receipt.
