A Scholar transport driver is on the run following a tragic accident that claimed the life of a young pupil.
A kid died and 14 others were injured when the minibus taxi, they were travelling in, overturned due to alleged brake failure.
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It’s alleged that immediately after the crash, the driver fled the scene, leaving the injured kids behind.
The accident happened on Wednesday, 4 March, at Mount Moriah near KwaMashu, north of Durban, KZN.
Concerned resident Nhlakanipho Mkhize believes the driver was negligent.
“Brakes often make a sound before they stop working. As he knows that he is transporting kids, he should have changed the brakes before transporting kids.”
“This accident could have been prevented if he had done that,” Mkhize said.
KZN Transport and Human Settlement MEC Siboniso Duma has called on the driver to hand himself over to the police immediately.
“We wish to express our deepest condolences to the family of a child who died n a scholar transport accident yesterday afternoon.
“A minibus taxi overturned while the kids were coming from daycare schools, leaving them badly injured.
“We immediately assigned a team to visit the injured children and parents at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital,” said Duma.
He stated that the trauma the kids endured would take years to heal.
“The team met the owner of the minibus taxi who indicated that he received a call from the driver informing him that the accident was caused by brake failure.”
“We are calling upon the driver, who has since disappeared, to hand himself over to the police,” he said.
Duma confirmed that the provincial Executive Council is coordinating support for the affected families.
“Our Road Traffic Inspectorate is working with SAPS to investigate the roadworthiness of the minibus taxi. MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane is ensuring quality patient care for the injured kids,” he said.
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Duma said Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka will coordinate all interventions focusing on the welfare of kids and teachers.
“MEC for Social Development Mbali Shinga will deploy social workers to provide psychosocial support and trauma counselling to the children and families,” added Duma.
