Over the past weeks, the community of Vryheid has been shocked to the core by several accidents where schoolchildren have been knocked over by vehicles. Statistics show that every year, an average of 67,124 child pedestrians are injured and over 700 of those tragically die.
A few weeks back, a child was hit by a vehicle in South Street while crossing the road on her way home. She sadly lost her life. Still in shock and mourning, the community was rocked by another accident late last week. A little boy child was hit by a vehicle on Thursday morning at around 07:05 in Kerk Street. Multiple units – including an ambulance, rapid intervention/rescue vehicle and advanced life support unit – were dispatched to the scene. It was found that a boy of about 12 years old had attempted to cross Kerk Street and was hit by a bus. The boy was unresponsive and gasping for breath. The first response crew initiated immediate life-saving interventions in an attempt to resuscitate the boy. These efforts proved successful and the boy started breathing on his own again. He was taken to Vryheid District Hospital, where his condition was further stabilised. Later that day, he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Newcastle Mediclinic, where his condition was described as critical but stable. On Tuesday morning, the Vryheid Herald contacted the family, and the aunt of the little boy said he was still in ICU but recovering day by day.
On the day of the accident, officials from the Traffic Department, SAPS, Fire Department and provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) visited two schools to conduct traffic awareness campaigns. This is a scholar patrol project, working alongside the CWP (Community Work Programme), where members of different communities will be taught how to deal with traffic at intersections or places where schoolchildren cross the road. At Nardini Convent School, General NB Mgoza told the children that ‘we are here because we love you and we want you to be safe on the roads’. He further explained that they were there to teach the children how to cross at a zebra crossing and at intersections, with the help of CWP participants. “Before crossing the road, make sure you look left, right, left and right again. Then, when there is no car, you can cross. Make sure you can see oncoming traffic; never walk behind cars.” Adding to what Mgoza said, Mr Naicker emphasised this phrase to the children: ‘If I can’t see you, you can’t see me’ and told the children to always remember this rule.
Police official Mr Magubane focused on substance abuse and told the children to stay away from drugs. “As the SAPS, we are mainly here to tell you to say NO to drugs. You are still young, so don’t involve yourselves with any form of drugs. If you do, you will be killing yourselves, your future and your families.’’
The awareness campaign was conducted at New Republic School and Vryheid Public Primary School on Friday. AbaQulusi Deputy Mayor Mazibuko came on board by visiting the school where the little boy was hit by the bus. General Mgoza concluded by saying that, “CWP participants will continue to assist children at schools and we have had an awards ceremony for the participants at Cecil Emmett, where they received certificates.” Public Safety officials will be out on the roads in the mornings and afternoons, in response to the cry from the community. Vryheid residents feel that children are all over the roads at these times, with no one to supervise them.
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