A COURT date has not yet been set for the drivers involved in the accident in which a nine-year-old school pupil died last week.
‘The matter is under investigation and the court is still awaiting the results of the blood tests of the taxi driver as well as the post mortem results of the pupil who passed away,’ said Empangeni SAP spokesperson Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose.
‘Only once the results are out can a date be set by the court,’
Alwande Langa of Siyakhanyisa Primary School died in the two-vehicle collision at the intersection of President Swart and Biggar Roads.
Allegations are that both the driver of a Quantum minibus taxi, Ntulumbuso Biyela (32) as well as the driver of the Hyundai bakkie in which Alwande was travelling, Siphelele Ndwande (23) ignored the stop sign at the intersection.
The child was flung out of the window and her body hit a telephone pole where she died on scene.
Two other children were transported to hospital with moderate injuries.
The men were detained and charged with culpable homicide.
They appeared at the Empangeni Magistrate Court last week and were not asked to plead and were subsequently released pending further investigation. Ndwande and Biyela are still in possession of their drivers licenses.
The tragic accident has evoked renewed public outcry over the large number of unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles transporting children, who have no seatbelts or other restraints, as well as the competency and qualifications of drivers.
Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said a policy has been drafted by the department stating that under no circumstances may learners be transported in unsafe vehicles.
‘Our kids are at risk on a daily basis, over a period of 200 school calendar days and when these accidents happen it is always more than 10 or 12 children who die or are harmed.
‘It becomes a catastrophe and when you dig deep to the root you discover these deaths are due to unroadworthy vehicles.
‘This cannot be tolerated at all,’ said Mahlambi.
‘My department and the Department of Transport call upon the police to do random checks on vehicles transporting learners,’ added Mahlambi.
17 OCTOBER
Crash drivers keep licences
THE drivers involved in the fatal accident in which a nine-year-old pupil died on Monday appeared in court on Tuesday and were released without bail.
Both Siphelele Ndwande (23), the driver of the vehicle from which Grade 3 Siyakhanyisa Primary School pupil Alwande Langa was flung, and the driver of the taxi which collided with a fully laden Hyundai, Ntulumbuso Biyela (32), were charged with culpable homicide.
After their brief appearance at the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court, the men were not asked to plead, were released pending further investigation and the case was remanded until a court date has been determined.
Ndwande and Biyela are still in possession of their drivers licenses.
‘Until the court proves the men guilty their licenses cannot be suspended. The decision ultimately lies with the court,’ said Empangeni SAPS spokesperson Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose.
On Monday morning the taxi crashed into the bakkie transporting a number of pupils in the load bin. According to eyewitnesses both drivers ignored the traffic signs at the President Swart and Beggar Road four-way stop.
The tragic accident has evoked a public outcry over the large number of unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles transporting schoolchildren who have no seatbelts or other restraints. The competency and qualifications of drivers are also questioned.
‘Our children are at risk on a daily basis over a period of 200 school calendar days, and when these accidents happen it is always more than 10 or 12 children who die or are injured. It becomes a catastrophe and when you dig to the root (of the problem), you discover these deaths are a result of unroadworthy vehicles. This cannot be tolerated at all,’ said Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi.
‘My department, in conjunction with the Department of Transport, call upon the police to conduct random checks on vehicles transporting pupils. The department has drafted a policy stating that no pupil may under any circumstance be transported in unroadworthy vehicles. We condemn any form of such practice,’ said Mahlambi.
16 OCTOBER
Second driver charged in school-run tragedy
The driver (29) of the Hyundai bakkie transporting school pupils has also been arrested on charges of culpable homicide after a witness stepped forward stating that the driver had also ignored the stop sign.
15 OCTOBER
Taxi driver arrested for pupil’s death
A TAXI driver allegedly under the influence of alcohol faces a charge of culpable homicide following the tragic death of a nine year-old school pupil en route to an Empangeni school on Monday morning.
Alwande Langa of Siyakhanyisa Primary School was travelling in a Hyundai bakkie passing Heuwelland Primary when the driver of a Quantum minibus taxi ignored the stop sign, colliding with the vehicle at the intersection of President Swart and Biggar Roads.
Upon impact, the child was flung out of the window and her body hit a telephone pole where she died on scene.
Two other children were transported to nearby hospitals with moderate injuries.
The taxi driver was subsequently breathalysed and detained by the Empangeni SAPS.
‘Blood tests confirmed that the 32 year-old taxi driver was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs,’ said Empangeni SAPS spokesperson Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose.
‘He was consequently arrested for culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving. The driver of the bakkie was released but we are still awaiting a decision from the National Prosecuting Authority.’
The tragedy, which left parents, motorists and pedestrians in shock has evoked public outcry over the large number of unroadworthy vehicles transporting children to school.
‘This is not the first nor the last time such a tragedy happens. These taxis and bakkies are sometimes so overloaded when transporting children to schools that some sit right at the door of the bakkie. Something should be done to control transport systems used for school children. The only thing these drivers care about is earning their income. They really do not care about the safety of the children,’ said an Empangeni resident.
It is believed parents pay up to R500 a month to transport a child in the back of bakkies without proper seatbelts and secure seating.
Other residents complained about excessive speeding on this particular stretch of road.
‘I live on the corner of Biggar Road and witnessed the accident,’ said Zoe Sloane.
‘I have been asking for speed humps to be erected for the past three years and have been told that it will hinder the speed of the fire department trucks that pass by, despite there being speed humps further down President Swart as well as right outside the Fire Department,’ added Sloane.
The KZN Department of Education could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
14 OCTOBER
Child dies in smash
A PUPIL from Siyakhanyisa Primary School was tragically killed when she was flung from a bakkie in President Swart Road this morning.
The girl believed to be nine years old, died at the scene.
Eye witnesses on the scene said a taxi collided with the bakkie transporting about 13 children at about 7.45am near Heuwelland Primary School.
Emergency services rushed the injured children to hospital.
According to witnesses, the driver of the taxi was breathalysed at the scene and was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Police spokesman, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose said the driver was detained for blood tests.
‘A culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving case has been opened,’ he said.
Update to follow
