Twelve schoolchildren and their driver had been killed when a minibus overturned and burst into flames in South Africa’s Gauteng province on Wednesday, authorities mentioned. The accident occurred on the second day after faculty reopened after winter break.
Seven different youngsters had been injured within the crash, which occurred within the city of Melafon, west of Johannesburg, the nation’s financial middle. In keeping with stories, a small truck referred to as a “bakkie” hit the again of the minibus carrying the youngsters, inflicting the minibus to overturn and burst into flames.
Schooling and site visitors officers attended the scene and visited the injured youngsters at a hospital within the neighboring Carletonville space. Gauteng provincial authorities chief Panyaza Lesufi additionally visited the injured youngsters.
Gauteng Division of Schooling spokesman Steve Mabona mentioned 11 of the deceased attended Rocklands Major Faculty and the twelfth died at Laerskool Blyvooruitsig Major Faculty in Carletonville.
“The coed’s transport was hit from behind by a van and burst into flames,” mentioned Mr Mabona, who described the incident as “horrible”.
In Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province, 1000’s of schoolchildren use non-public minibuses to get to and from faculty. Many others depend on public transportation, together with municipal buses and taxis.
