By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
A group of 20 school learners were injured on Monday morning when a minibus taxi veered off the road and plunged a few metres down KwaKhetha Bridge on the P127 in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Fullview learnt the driver have lost control of the vehicle and crashed over the bridge landing five metres below.
KZN Private Ambulance Service’s Craig Botha says from the pictures that they have seen and reports from the paramedics, the children are lucky to have escaped the crash with minor to severe injuries.
“We usually expect severe, if not fatal injuries from an accident like that, added Botha.”
According to the KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, the driver fled the scene.
“Most disturbing is that the taxi driver disappeared, and law enforcement agencies are looking for him,” Duma said.
“Learners are from Matomela High School, Luthando High School and Sthunjwana Primary School.
They have been taken to Gomane Clinic and Harry Gwala Regional Hospital (Edendale Hospital),” Duma said.
This is the third accident involving a school pupil transport in the Umgungundlovu District within four days.
Four pupils died on Thursday,11 September, and several others are still in the hospital.
“We are calling on the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in KwaZulu-Natal to come closer to these accidents involving taxi associations.
“The Automobile Association estimates 70 000 minibus taxi crashes annually, with taxis experiencing double the crash rate of other passenger vehicles,” Duma said.
The MEC also announced a new partnership with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA) – a member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation – to clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles and fraudulent roadworthy certificates.
As part of the collaboration, the province plans to tighten legislation on the taxi and scholar transport industry, introduce stricter compliance and accountability measures, and require biannual certificates of roadworthiness for all heavy passenger vehicles.
The accident comes as the department prepares for October’s Transport Month, during which the new safety measures will be rolled out.