More than 20 high school pupils were injured on Monday morning when a scholar transport vehicle overturned near West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg.
The crash, believed to have been caused by speeding, left one learner hospitalised and facing surgery, while the rest have since been discharged.
The GDE confirmed that the overturned vehicle was ferrying learners from Greenside High School, Parktown Girls’ High School, and Roosevelt High School. Specifically, 13 learners from Greenside, spanning Grades 8 to 11, were on board, alongside four pupils from Roosevelt in Grades 8, 9, and 12, and three Parktown Girls’ High School learners from Grades 8, 10, and 11.
Following the accident, emergency services arrived on the scene to assist the injured students, who were subsequently transported to various healthcare facilities where they received medical attention.
In response to the incident, the GDE says it has initiated psychosocial support services for the affected learners and their families, helping them cope with the physical and emotional aftermath of the accident. Officials have also been sent to each school and hospital to monitor the situation and help those affected.
“We are grateful that there were no fatalities, and we extend our gratitude to emergency personnel, respective school management teams, and our officials who responded swiftly," said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.
"We are continuing to engage with relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident and ensure accountability. We urge all scholar transport drivers, whether public or private, to ensure that the safety and well-being of our learners remains a top priority at all times. We wish all learners a speedy recovery.”
Saturday Star