Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Ms Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has issued a stern warning to unregistered drivers to stop transporting children to and from schools.
The MEC's warning follows an accident that led to the injury of 30 learners from Thengwe and St August Combined Schools in the Mutale area. The children were transported to school in an open mini-truck last Thursday morning (28 April). The accident occurred along the D3689 road, next to the traffic college, at around 07:00.
The spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Mike Maringa, said that the speeding driver had allegedly lost control of the mini-truck and the vehicle had overturned. Twenty learners were seriously injured, while 10 escaped with less serious injuries. The injured learners were taken to the Donald Fraser hospital.
MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya said that parents must, from their side, also see to their children's safety by ensuring that the children were transported to school by registered drivers with complying vehicles. She said that law enforcement would be tightened in all the identified areas to ensure the safety of learners who relied on public transport or arranged transportation to schools.
"It is regrettable that we had to wake up to the horrific accident involving these learners from the Mutale area. We are grateful that there were no fatalities reported, but I want to emphasize that all those who are transporting learners must register with the department. We will impound [vehicles] and arrest drivers who don't comply, putting the lives of our children at risk," said Lerule-Ramakhanya.
The MEC for Education, Ms Polly Boshielo, also conveyed her deep regret about the incident and wished the injured learners a speedy recovery.
Tidimalo Chuene, the spokesperson for the Department of Education, said that psycho-social support would be offered to the school community in the light of this tragic accident.
A member of Thengwe Secondary School's school governing body, Mr Vhonani Ratshilumela, was deeply affected by the accident. "May God help them to recover, so that they can return to their classes soon for learning and teaching. We are about to start with the mid-year examination on 1 June and their presence in the examination room will mean a lot to us," said Ratshilumela.
Thengwe said they were overjoyed to learn that some of the learners involved in the accident had already been discharged from hospital.