Various role players expressed their shock and condolences after the accident that killed 12 learners and their driver in the Wedela area yesterday.
The DA’s Shadow Minister for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, extended the party’s condolences to the families, friends, fellow pupils and the community following the crash.
The accident took place on the D92 road between the N12 and Blyvoorzicht at 06:42 yesterday morning. The children died after the minibus-taxi in which they being transported to Rocklands Primary School and Laerskool Blyvooruitsig overturned and burst into flames after allegedly being hit from behind by a bakkie.
The driver of the minibus also succumbed in the accident.
By yesterday several children as well as the driver of the bakkie were being treated in hospital.
“In the wake of this saddening event DA urges MEC Chiloane to promptly review the current scholar transport policy, which failed to adequately serve our learners in the province, leading to numerous fatal car accidents involving learners,” says Dos Santos.
The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, and the Deputy Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, also sent condolences to the families of the 12 learners who died in yesterday’s crash.
This department also sent a team to the site to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr Matome Chiloane, also visited the site yesterday and expressed his sadness about the incident and passed on his condolences to the affected families, friends and schools.
A case of culpable homicide is being investigated by the police in Fochville.
The road was closed for most of yesterday following the accident.
