Garden Route school bus death toll now 15

By Khanyisa Tabata
24 August 2011

The children involved in this morning’s fatal school bus accident on the Garden Route are from the Rheenendal Primary School near Knysna.

At least 15 people, including the driver, have been confirmed dead.

The bus plunged off a low-water bridge into a river, injuring scores of children under the age of 12. It appears that the bus’ brakes failed.

Police divers are currently searching for more bodies. A team of school psychologists and social workers are providing counselling for learners, parents and staff.

Western Cape Transport MEC Robin Carlisle has called the incident “an unspeakable tragedy and a bitter blow”.

It happened on the eve of the commemoration of the Blackheath taxi crash in Cape Town that killed 10 school children on a railway crossing last year.

ER24 spokesperson Andre Visser says a large bus filled with school children all aged between 7 and 16 had allegedly lost control before leaving the road and entering a deep river.