By Everson Luhanga
A bakkie that was travelling at a high speed on Wednesday morning slammed into a scholar transport vehicle, killing 12 learners.
A source who was part of the team deployed to the scene said some of the children were burnt beyond recognition.
“They will be identified by DNA testing,” said the source.
“The authorities had to use the jaws of life to rescue some victims and to get the bodies out.”
He said a Ford Ranger bakkie struck the scholar transport from the back, causing it to roll over and then catch fire.
The wreckage of the overturned minibus taxi which was used as a private scholar transport vehicle seemed completely burnt when authorities assessed the scene.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that 13 people, including the minibus driver and 12 learners, died and seven learners and the driver of the bakkie were taken to medical facilities.
“The learners were being transported to Blyvooruitsig and Rocklands Primary Schools in Blyvooruitzicht.”
She said the police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
Earlier on Wednesday, Matome Chiloane, Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, said: “The department is deeply saddened to confirm that 11 learners from Rocklands Primary School and one learner from Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville, along with their driver, lost their lives in a devastating accident.”
Education activist Hendrick Makaneta called on law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate this incident.
“It’s important to assess the state of the scholar transport through its records of service to determine whether everything was above board,” said Makaneta.
Meanwhile, the DA Gauteng spokesperson for education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, urged Chiloane to promptly review the current scholar transport policy.
“The policy has failed to adequately serve our learners in the province, leading to numerous fatal car accidents involving learners,” he said.
He said as part of their dedication to securing the future of Gauteng’s children through quality education, they will closely monitor the investigation of this incident and pursue the establishment of a reviewed scholar transport policy.
Pictured above: The bakkie that crashed into a school transport vehicle, and the burnt out vehicle in the background.
Source: Supplied
