Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
An incident in Vanderbijlpark which saw a private scholar transport accident claimed the lives of 13 pupils, on Monday morning. Preliminary reports had indicated that the scholars had been pronounced dead on the scene while only five pupils had sustained serious injuries and were immediately taken to the hospital for immediate care, however two pupils died in the hospital.
The MEC of Education, Matome Chiloane, had visited the scene as emergency medical
response services had arrived to continue further with response and recovery operations.
According to the Gauteng Department of Education’s Spokesperson, Steve Mabona, has
expressed that the ages and grades of these pupils have not yet been confirmed however due
to their uniforms, it is confirmed that the students were from three different public schools and two private schools. The accident occurred at 7AM as the transport vehicle had collided with a side tipper truck. The driver of the transport vehicle is currently in hospital as a case of culpable homicide is currently under investigation.
“The Sector has been unregulated for quite some time…within the scholar transport system we have some regulations, however within the private transport we have some loopholes and this is the price we are seeing today” said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
MEC of Education had expressed that parents need to be more aware and also expressed that
it’s better if children are late to school rather than them never arriving at all.
According to South African Police Service spokesperson, Brigadier Mavela Masondo, the
minibus taxi had attempted to overtake two vehicles when it had collided with the truck.
“We have received information that out of those who were taken to hospital one has passed on,” said Masondo.
“The provincial government needs to establish whether the vehicle was roadworthy and legal,
whether the driver of the vehicle was properly licensed and whether all scholar safety
regulations were adhered to.” said Build on South Africa party in a statement.