Two children in critical condition after fatal school bus crash
Government officials visit critically injured high school learners
The four learners who were transported to the Middelburg Provincial Hospital following the accident involving their school bus, which collided with a train on the R104 road near Mafube Village yesterday afternoon, will be transferred to Witbank Hospital.
Five children died on impact, and one died in the hospital while receiving medical treatment.
The Minister of Education, Siviwe Gwarube, and Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, along with other officials, visited the Middelburg Hospital, where the four learners are currently being hospitalised.
Dr Linky Ntuli, the clinical manager at Middelburg Hospital, said one will be taken to Cosmos Hospital for a CT scan because he is showing signs of amnesia. Another learner has a fractured spinal cord, one has broken legs, and the fourth learner has a broken arm.
The officials started the day by visiting Morelig Combined School, where the Mpumalanga MEC of Education, Landulile Dlamini, said five learners were discharged, and two of the learners are in critical condition.
She added that the health department will be providing counselling to the learners and the families of the victims.
Karabo Mashego (grade 11), who is an RCL member, said he and his classmates are devastated about the news of the crash.
He also said the school buses the learners use usually break down, and he has complained about them to the school, who said they would investigate.
Learners and parents claimed that the bus driver was under the influence of alcohol, and learners asked the driver not to be reckless before the crash happened.
@middelburgobserver Karabo Mashego, a learner at Morneg Combined School, said he and his school mates are devastated about the news of the six learners that died in a crash yesterday in Mafube Village.#middelburgobserver
When asked if the bus driver would be arrested, Hlengwa said his department is giving the police space to investigate the matter. He also said preliminary reports of the accident will be released in the next few days.
@middelburgobserver Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa said his department is giving the police space to investigate the accident involving six Morneg Combined School. He also said preliminary reports of the accident will be released in the following days. #middelburgobserver
• Steve Tshwete Local Municipality Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela said officials will be meeting today to discuss funeral arrangements and the support they will be offering the families.
• The identities of the learners have not been formally released due to post-mortem examinations taking place.
