Head for Transport Sbusiso Gumbi, together with Nathi Sukazi, the department's General Manager: Communications visited at the accident scene at Rietflei near Mooi River, where 5 children from Senzokuhle Combined School died in a tragic bakkie accident.
Following earlier reports on an accident that led to the death of four school children on the D-653 Elfmore farm near Rietflei, Mooi River, yesterday morning (12 May 2014), it has has been reported that the fifth scholar was found and extracted from the sewerage dam and was declared dead on the scene.
Preliminary reports revealed that about 30 learners from Senzokuhle Combined School were traveling in a bakkie when its driver lost control due to suspected brake failure and went into the sewerage dam. Four of the learners were killed on the scene and 25 were taken to Greytown hospital to receive medical attention.
The total number of the deceased has now risen to five following the extraction of the fifth body that went missing in the sewerage dam.
The driver of the bakkie has been arrested and is detained at the Greytown police station. He is expected to appear in court to face three charges which are five counts of murder, overloading and illegal loading of school children in a delivery van. The bakkie has been extracted and forensic experts will conduct a thorough investigation into the real course of the accident.
Meanwhile, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, together with the MEC for Education, Peggy Nkonyeni, will today visit the accident scene, the school as well as the families of the deceased.
The visit will be conducted as follows:
Date: 13 May 2014
Time: 10h00
Venue: D-63 Elfmore farm near Rietvlei- Mooi River.
