Fear abounds as pupils stay home after accident
Parents’ meeting to be called at school
habilitate part of the road were under way. “The department plans to begin phase 2 of the road, which is 13km from Verena southwards into Gauteng in the 2018/19 financial year. Designs for this second phase will be completed in the current 2017/18 financial year.
“In the meantime, the department will continue with routine maintenance on the road stretch still to be reconstructed,” Gabashane said. Primary Farm School in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, is experiencing a high rate of absenteeism following Friday’s crash.
The school lost 14 pupils and a general worker in the crash.
Principal Lucia Xolo said: “There are children who witnessed the crash and are not coping. This has led to some of them staying at home. There is a lot of fear – not only among pupils, but among parents.
“We are concerned about this. A parents’ meeting will be held to address the matter. We understand the trauma and fear but children have to come to school,” said Xolo.
“Psychologists and social workers are still coming to the school to offer counselling to pupils and teachers. There are teachers who have been hit hard by the accident,” she said.
Xolo said the school had been accepting contributions from neighbouring schools, churches, citizens and business people on behalf the families.
“We call on anyone who can make a contribution, to bring it to the school,” Xolo said.
She said she was trying to be strong for the pupils and staff.
Mahlenga Secondary School lost four pupils in the accident.
The schools are receiving counselling and support from social workers, psychologists and the government.