Four pupils among 13 killed in accidents in the province

THIRTEEN people, including four pupils, lost their lives on Eastern Cape roads over the past two days.

More than 50 Grade 10 and 11 pupils from Lwandile and Mngcibe villages were travelling to Ntshilini Senior Secondary School when their bus went over a bridge at around 7am in Mdumbi village.

Initial reports indicate that the brakes failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle, although the matter is still under investigation, provincial transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie said.

Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said one male pupil was declared dead on the scene and three more male pupils died from their injuries after being taken to a nearby hospital.

“We are saddened by the sudden death of the learners. On behalf of the [health] MEC, we pass our condolences to their families and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” Kupelo said.

“Our emergency personnel, nurses and doctors will do everything in their power to save the injured,” he said.

He said a total number of 53 pupils were referred to Mthatha for observation. Ntshilini school principal Ntsikelelo Mlisa said the community and school were still in shock following the news.

“Their fellow-pupils are devastated. We will wait for the department of education to give us a way forward as what to do as the pupils were supposed to start writing final examinations tomorrow [Tuesday],” he said.

Education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said the pupils were travelling in a 75-seater scholar transport bus when it went over a bridge in the OR Tambo coastal education district.

“It is alleged that due to this, some of the learners travelling with the bus jumped out windows. The department will despatch a team of psychologists to help counsel the learners.

“The head of department sends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said.

Mtima said the department will further engage the department of transport as it concerned the roadworthiness of the bus.

● In a separate accident, nine people were killed on Sunday night following a head-on collision on the R63 between Adelaide and Fort Beaufort when the driver of a Toyota Tazz lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an oncoming truck.

The five women and four men who were travelling in the overcrowded vehicle around 8pm on Sunday died on the scene when the driver collided with a truck after overtaking several vehicles.

The truck driver escaped with slight injuries.

Eastern Cape transport MEC Weziwe Tikana advised motorists to be aware when using the roads.

“We would like to make an appeal to our motorists to respect the rules of the road.

“It takes only a second for a fatal accident to occur while the pain and suffering lasts much longer.

“We call on all road-users to take responsibility for themselves and those around them when making use of the road,” Tikana said.

It is alleged that the driver was driving under the influence of alcohol, and speeding and overloading were the main contributors to the accident.

Rantjie confirmed the tragic loss of lives on the R63.

“We are in the process of trying to track down the families and we would like to urge motorists to be vigilant when using our roads.

“We are finding that most crashes are caused by human behaviour,” she said. — oreillya@tisoblackstar.co.za