Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said SAPS Crime Scene Management, including the Accident Unit, responded to the accident which occurred at about 7am on Blyvoor Road, near the N12 highway, in the Wedela area.
“The accident was between a Ford Ranger bakkie and a minibus carrying school children. At this stage we can confirm that 13 people, the minibus driver and 12 learners, have died and seven learners are in hospital as well as the driver of the bakkie.”
Muridili said the pupils were being transported to the Rocklands and Blyvooruitzicht primary schools in Blyvooruitzicht.
The police were investigating a case of culpable homicide.
The cause of the accident remained unknown.
The crash follows demands by the DA in Gauteng for a review of the scholar transport policy to ensure pupils’ safety. In March 2024, the party urged Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane and the province’s MEC for roads and transport, Kedibone Diale Tlabela, to take action. This followed an accident in Alexandra, in which a scholar transport vehicle carrying Sandringham High School pupils collided with another vehicle. Six sustained minor injuries, including one pupil with a broken leg.
In the wake of the incident, the DA’s Gauteng shadow MEC for education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, urged the provincial education department to work with the investigative authorities to determine the facts of the tragedy and bring the case to a conclusion.
Chiloane said on Wednesday he is saddened by the incident.
“The loss of our children is a blow to our community and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured learners. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and both schools’ entire community.”
Chiloane added that the department has dispatched its psychosocial support team to provide immediate support to the schools and families. DM
MEDIA STATEMENT
MEC @matomekopano is deeply saddened to confirm an incident that occurred this morning 11 learners from Rocklands Primary School and 1 learner from Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville, along with their driver, lost their lives in a devastating accident. pic.twitter.com/YNksxRWlos
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) July 10, 2024
This is still a developing story.