Overloaded scholar transport leaves one dead as taxi collides with car in M/Plain

A Grade 5 learner has died following a collision between a taxi and another car in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain, on Monday morning. The police’s F.C van Wyk says that the Toyota Quantum was transporting 24 learners from various schools in Mitchells Plain, when it collided with the BMW, at around 08:10, on the corner of AZ Berman Drive and Marguerite Street.

‘’One of the children, a boy aged between 8 and 10, was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and later succumbed due to injuries sustained. The other children were treated on the scene or taken to nearby hospitals with minor injuries,’’ said Captain F.C Van Wyk.

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Van Wyk added that no arrest as been made yet, and the cause of the accident is currently under investigation. Lentegeur SAPS are probing a case of culpable homicide.

Anyone with any information about this accident is requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

The principal of Rocklands primary, Keith Scheepers, confirmed that the deceased attended his school.

‘’It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the very sad news… Learners were taken to hospital for observation, but unfortunately, one of our Grade 5 learners succumbed to his injuries. It is a very sad moment for us as a school and a community.’’

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Ward Councillor, Avron Plaatjies, urged SAPS to resolve the situation as soon as possible. He pleaded with motorists to drive with caution.

The Western Cape's Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie has urged the provincial traffic authorities to prioritise investigations into ascertaining what caused Monday morning's accident.

‘’What a horrible way to start the week. A family has lost a young child. We ask the provincial regulatory entity to do an urgent investigation into the transport operator. We ask everyone to please abide by the road regulations to ensure everyone arrive home safely to spend time with their families.’’

Michael Jacobs, Deputy Chairperson for the Mitchell’s Plain United Residence Association, lamented provincial and local authorities for not taking enough action into ensuring learner transport safety. According to Jacobs, more needs to be done in this regard.

‘’This is not the first or the last of such tragic incidents involving school children in Mitchell's Plain, as the relevant authorities have been made aware of the extent of the problem within Mitchell's Plain for a number of years. It is not as if they don't know how desperate the situation is when it comes to learner transport in Mitchell's Plain. So do we have enough traffic officers on duty in Mitchell's Plain to ensure proactive and visible traffic policing? How many traffic officers on duty per shift and at what times? Councillor this is part of your oversight duties, so why deflect from your responsibility as a councillor? So it is very simple, do we have enough traffic officers in Mitchell's Plain to deal with the deadly carnage on our roads?,’’ said a frustrating Michael Jacobs.

 

Done By: Mitchum George