Two children died and another 63 were left injured after the school bus they travelled in overturned in neighbouring Wedela on the far West Rand last Thursday afternoon, October 20.
GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said in a statement issued on Friday, October 21 that the incident occurred near the Western Deep mine shaft #2 as learners were being transported home.
“It is alleged the driver lost control of the bus and caused an accident that led to 63 learners, who were on board, being injured and hospitalised at a local medical facility. Unfortunately, a Grade 8 boy learner and a Grade 10 girl learner from Wedela Technical High School, who were also on board the bus, lost their lives in the accident.”
Following reports that the driver of the bus fled the scene following the accident, Mabona said this was not the case.
“He is in fact currently in hospital receiving medical attention and did not flee the scene of the accident as reported. He was among the first to be rushed to hospital when the incident occurred.”
According to ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring, the bus veered off the road and down an embankment.
“ER24 and several other services arrived on the scene at 16:00 to find that the bus had overturned, ejecting a number of the occupants. A triage area was set up while medics tended to the patients. On closer inspection, medics found that two children had sustained fatal injuries. Nothing could be done for them, and they were declared dead.
“On the assessment of the other patients, medics found that approximately 58 other children, aged between 12 and 18, had sustained minor to serious injuries. The children were treated, and the seriously injured were provided pain-relief medication before being transported to nearby hospitals for further care.”
Police are investigating the circumstances surround this incident.
A shocked Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane visit the school a day after the tragedy and then proceeded to visit both families of the deceased learners to convey his condolences.
Chiloane said their psychosocial support team will be dispatched to the school to provide urgent trauma support, which will also be extended to the families of the deceased learners.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and we wish to convey our sincerest sympathies towards the families of the learners who lost their lives due to this unfortunate accident. We will provide the necessary counselling and support to all those affected by this occurrence. We call upon all our scholar transport drivers to always be alert and make sure our learners travel safely at all times.”
