President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to instruct the Department of Basic Education to identify measures to improve the safety of scholar transport across the country.
The announcement follows a tragic crash in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week in which 12 learners lost their lives.
Details Of The Vanderbijlpark Crash
Preliminary information indicates that a minibus transporting learners attempted to overtake on a narrow road before colliding with a truck. Dashcam footage circulating on social media shows the minibus travelling into the oncoming lane before trying to move aside moments before the impact.
The Gauteng government has confirmed that the driver of the minibus was operating with an expired Professional Driving Permit at the time of the crash.
Government Response And Safety Concerns
Speaking on the sidelines of the Basic Education Lekgotla in Boksburg on Wednesday, Ramaphosa emphasised the urgency of strengthening safety measures for learner transport.
He said the deaths of the children were deeply painful and appeared to be the result of negligent driving. The president indicated that both the Basic Education and Transport departments would be directed to assess current systems and recommend changes aimed at preventing similar tragedies.
Driver Arrested
Meanwhile, the 22 year old driver of the scholar transport vehicle has been arrested. He is facing charges of culpable homicide and negligent driving as investigations into the crash continue.
The incident has once again raised concerns about the regulation and monitoring of scholar transport services and the enforcement of safety standards on the country’s roads.
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