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By Johnatahn Paoli
The Gauteng education department has confirmed that 20 learners were injured in a scholar transport accident near West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg early Monday morning.
Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane expressed relief that there were no fatalities and praised the quick response of emergency services and school authorities.
“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 wellbeing of our learners remains a top priority at all times. We wish all learners a speedy recovery,” Chiloane said.
The incident occurred at around 7am along West Park Road. The vehicle was reportedly transporting learners to Greenside High School, Parktown Girls’ High School and Roosevelt High School.
According to a statement released by department, the vehicle overturned after the driver lost control while navigating a bend.
Preliminary reports suggest that the vehicle was travelling at high speed, which may have contributed to the crash.
The department confirmed that 13 of the injured learners were from Greenside High, spanning Grades 8 to 11.
Four were from Roosevelt and three from Parktown.
Emergency medical personnel treated the injured learners on-site before transporting them to various healthcare facilities across Johannesburg for further assessment and treatment.
Most of them have already been discharged.
However, the department noted that one learner from Greenside High remained hospitalised and would undergo surgery for injuries sustained during the crash
The department has activated its trauma support unit and is providing counselling services to the learners and their families.
These services are being made available both at the schools and through referrals to social workers, psychologists and other support professionals to help the learners deal with the emotional aftermath of the incident.
The department has committed to working closely with law enforcement agencies and the transport department to investigate the accident.
INSIDE EDUCATION