By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Six learners died, nineteen others are still in hospital after a goods train and a scholar transport bus collided at a level crossing at Mafube Village outside Middelburg, Mpumalanga.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon when the children were being transported home to the village of Mafube from Moreig Primary and High schools.
Five pupils died on the scene. A sixth pupil later succumbed to injuries while receiving treatment at the nearby hospital.
Eyewitnesses stated the bus was crossing the railway line as the train was approaching.
Mpumalanga Roads and Transport MEC, Thulasizwe Thomo, expressed devastation over the incident.
“What is so painful is that the driver who was in that bus was under the influence. Secondly, he has been reckless,” said Thomo.
Fullview learnt that the driver’s drinking was a usual occurrence. Not only was he always spotted drinking, but he was also spotted smoking “dagga” in front of the learners.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Mpumalanga MEC for Education Cathy Dlamini and MEC For Community Safety and Security Liaison, Jackie Macie visited the school and crash scene to engage with management and parents on Thursday.
Gwarube expressed her condolences to the bereaved families and the school.
She emphasised the need for government departments to work concurrently when it comes to the safety of school children.
“I would not want to delve into the circumstances surrounding the accident because I think it’s subject to still an investigation, but it’s something that we really need to tighten our processes around to make sure we’re working much closer together with local providers of learner transport because we cannot keep losing learners…” Gwarube added.
Hlengwa offered condolences to the bereaved families and assured them that investigations are underway.
“We have got the Railway Safety Regulator, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), and the transport department, along with the South African Police Services (Saps) and Transnet, working together to solve this,” he said.
Hlengwa also shared that the RTMC is expected to release a preliminary report on Friday, while the Railway Safety Regulator will follow with a report within 48 hours. He said these reports would guide further action steps.
The transport department is reviewing its policy on scholar transport, aiming to strengthen it and ensure coherence.
Hlengwa shared concern over the country’s road safety, while particularly focusing the spotlight on scholar transport.
“At this point in time, we are looking at the policy in so far as scholar transport is concerned to ensure that a review is conducted and there is cooperation between the Department of Transport and the Department of Basic Education through national interdepartmental committee,” he said.
This incident comes while the Carlentonville crash that claimed the lives of 11 pupils on the N12 is still fresh in the memory of South Africans.
The crash also involved scholar transport and saw officials, including MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Matome Chiloane, MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, as well as deputy mayor of Merafong City Godfrey Mogomotsi Sello, call for better regulation of scholar transport, which has oftentimes featured vehicles that are unroadworthy and packed to capacity.