Two school pupils and their driver narrowly escaped injury after the scholar transport vehicle they were travelling in burst into flames in Vosloorus, Gauteng, on Thursday morning.
This incident comes after the kombi they were traveling in suddenly burst into flames in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni on Tuesday morning, 20 January.
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The driver, 59-year-old Mohlala Makowa, a veteran of 11 years transporting schoolkids, described the horrifying moment.
“I was supposed to pick up 15 children from primary schools in Leondale. After picking up two kids, I saw smoke and then fire coming from the engine. I managed to stop the kombi and when I opened the engine, flames were everywhere,” he said.
Despite the chaos, Mohlala acted quickly to rescue the kids, aged six and 10.
“Thankfully, I got them out safely. Unfortunately, one of the school bags was lost to the fire. I don’t know what caused the fire – the vehicle was serviced before school started. I’m just relieved no one was injured,” he said.
City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services spokesman William Ntladi said firefighters received a call about the fire at 6.03am in Inyetsane Street, Vosloorus Extension 7. By the time they arrived, the kombi was fully engulfed in flames.
The fire is believed to have started from a mechanical or electrical fault in the engine compartment.
Firefighters provided on-the-spot counseling to the frightened kids while their parents were contacted immediately.
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Although the blaze was extinguished, the kombi suffered extensive damage.
The scene was handed over to the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department for investigation and cleanup.
