JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A truck and a school minibus collided in South Africa’s Gauteng province Monday, killing at least 13 children, police said.
Authorities said the crash occurred around 7 a.m., when the private vehicle was transporting students to various primary schools and high schools in the southwest of Johannesburg.
Preliminary reports indicated at least 11 schoolchildren died at the scene, while two other children later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Witnesses said the minibus carrying the children was overtaking stationary vehicles when it hit the truck in a head-on collision. Police said the incident is being investigated and that the truck driver will be questioned.
The provincial education department minister, Matome Chiloane, told reporters that the bus driver would also be investigated for possibly driving recklessly.
Gauteng Emergency Services transported five patients to Sebokeng Hospital, while two others were taken to Kopanong Hospital for further medical care. The bus driver suffered injuries and was among those taken to the hospital.
At the scene, parents were seen weeping uncontrollably as emergency services picked up books and stationery.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed sadness at the loss of life and said national and provincial authorities would provide families and schools with the necessary psychosocial support. “Our children are the nation’s most precious assets and we must do all we can — from observing the rules of the road to the quality of service providers,” Ramaphosa said.
The country’s minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube, said many accidents involving school transport are caused by driver error and called on the Department of Transport to make sure that vehicles entrusted with transporting schoolchildren are roadworthy.
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