Zuko Komisa
- A scholar transport crash in Johannesburg injured twenty learners on Monday.
- One student from Greenside High School remains hospitalised, awaiting surgery.
- The Gauteng Department of Education is investigating the cause and offering support.
Approximately twenty schoolchildren have sustained injuries following a scholar transport accident in Johannesburg on Monday, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed.
The learners, from various city schools, were involved in the incident which occurred yesterday morning.
The GDE stated today, Tuesday, that the crash took place at around 7:00 AM on West Park Road, near the West Park Cemetery. Preliminary reports suggest the vehicle was allegedly travelling at high speed when the driver apparently lost control, causing it to overturn on a bend.
The precise cause of the accident remains under investigation, though authorities were quickly on the scene to assist the learners and begin assessing the circumstances.
According to information provided by the department, the overturned vehicle was transporting pupils from Greenside High School, Parktown Girls’ High School, and Roosevelt High School. Specifically, thirteen learners from Greenside High (Grades 8-11), four from Roosevelt High (Grades 8, 9, 12), and three from Parktown Girls’ High (Grades 8, 10, 11) were reportedly on board.
Following the collision, the injured learners were taken to various healthcare facilities for assessment and treatment.
“Fortunately, all learners were treated and discharged into the care of their families,” the department explained.
Most of the affected pupils have been medically advised to remain off school for the rest of the week. However, one learner from Greenside High School remains in hospital and is scheduled for surgery.
In response to the incident, the GDE has arranged psychosocial support for all affected learners and their families to aid with recovery and trauma management. Departmental officials were also dispatched to each school and hospital to verify the learners’ conditions and liaise with their families.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed relief that no fatalities occurred, extending gratitude to emergency personnel, school management teams, and departmental officials for their swift response.
“We are continuing to engage with the relevant authorities to determine the cause of the accident and ensure accountability,” MEC Chiloane stated.
He further urged all scholar transport drivers, whether public or private, to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of learners at all times, wishing all those injured a speedy recovery.
