Thirteen pupils died on Monday in a crash involving a scholar transport vehicle in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg. The private minibus taxi transporting learners to about five schools in the area was struck by a truck, causing it to veer off the road. Several other people including the driver were seriously injured and rushed to nearby medical facilities.
The Gauteng department of education said the death toll had risen by one since it had issued an earlier statement reporting 12 deaths. “A further learner has since succumbed to injuries, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 13. All information remains preliminary as investigations continue,” it said.
Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi travelled to the scene and described it as a “terrible accident”. “This sector has been unregulated for quite some time,” he said, adding that he had been in discussions with the minister of transport to strengthen regulations. “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.” Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane said the learners were from three public schools and two private schools, and included both primary and high school pupils.
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“It is really a tragic day for us as a department,” Chiloane said. He noted that, with police assistance, there was reason to believe there was “a case to answer” by the driver. Chiloane called for greater awareness among parents, urging that “kids should rather arrive later than never” at school.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Mavela Masondo said preliminary information suggested that the minibus taxi was attempting to overtake two vehicles when it collided with a truck. “We have received information that out of those who were taken to hospital one has passed on,” he said, adding that the minibus driver remains in hospital and the South African Police Service would open a case of culpable homicide.
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