According to eyewitnesses, the pupil was clamped by a bus door when he fell and was dragged for a metre and was subsequently run-over by six wheels when he fell.
The Tsotetsi family is still reeling in shock following the incident and demand justice for what happened.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Annah Tsotetsi (53), mother of the deceased said she last saw her son when he left for school.
Moments later, she received a call directing her to the scene where her son’s lifeless body laid, covered with a blanket.
Addressing the Ster Team at their family home in Tima Lebone, the distraught mother shared shocking details of how she found her son.
“When my sons leave for school (Tshepo and his twin brother Tshepang) they normally let me know. Today, they told me they were leaving. A couple of minutes later, I received a call to go to a scene. When I got there my son was lying on the ground, motionless, wrapped in a blanket,” she said.
The emotional mother said she was told a story of how her son was killed and attributed the incident to the overcrowding of buses.
“The buses are always full. Some days these kids come back home because of space constraints on the bus. Some days they will tell me how the bus driver drove off without waiting for them as they prepare to fill the bus,” she added.
Devastated Annah said all she wants is answers as to why the driver didn’t stop when he was told to.
An eyewitness who refused to be named fearing victimisation said pupils in the bus tried to stop the driver that continuously drove off despite massive screams for him to halt the bus.
“We all screamed when the bus started closing the doors and commenced to drag my friend (Tshepo), but he continued to drive. Only when a taxi stood in front of the bus did he stopped. The accident had already happened and Tshepo was already dead. The Bus driver pretended to look at the damage he had caused, but ran for his life,” he said.
An old friend of the deceased pupil said he hoped the driver will be arrested and pay for his crime.
“Killing a person is a crime, I hope he gets arrested and pays for his sins,” said the weeping pupil.
Police spokesman Sergeant Shaan Motsapi said a culpable homicide case docket was opened and investigations are underway.
Gauteng Department of
Education Spokesman Steve Mabona said the department is aware of the incident.
“We wish to convey our condolences to the family and the school community at large. We must also clarify that according to information at our disposal the driver did not run away as purported,” he said.
Asked if the department is aware of overflowing buses and parent’s grievances on the matter, Mabona said the department will investigate.
“We will investigate that allegation and attend to it accordingly. The demand for scholar transport sometimes Surpasses capacity, however we try to accommodate everyone,” he said.
Mabona said the department will dispatch the psycho social team to provide the necessary support.
