The KwaZulu-Natal legislature was saddened by the death of eight school children in an accident which left another five in critical condition.
|||Durban - The KwaZulu-Natal legislature was saddened by the death of eight school children in an accident on Wednesday which left another five in critical condition.
Speaker Peggy Nyonyeni said the legislature's thoughts and prayers were with the families and friends of the victims.
“We are still recovering from the shock of this tragedy, as we value the lives of our citizens and especially the youth who are the future of this country,” said Nkonyeni.
The legislature urged all road users to drive safely, check the condition of their vehicles before driving, and to not drink and drive.
The eight pupils died when their bus driver lost control of the vehicle and it overturned on the R66 between Ulundi and Kwaceza on Tuesday.
Twenty suffered minor injuries. The exact ages of the children were not known or whether the driver was injured.
Government also relayed its condolences to the loved ones of the victims.
Acting government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said: “This is an unfortunate incident. Drivers are urged to be vigilant on the road and obey all traffic laws.
“Vehicle safety inspections are important and should be conducted on a regular basis.”
She said owners of public transport vehicles were particularly urged to comply with safety regulatory standards.
Government commended the speedy deployment of emergency services to the accident scene and wished all those injured a speedy recovery.
Provincial transport spokesman Kwanele Ncalane said earlier investigations to establish the cause of the accident had started.
He said transport MEC Willies Mchunu would inspect the accident scene, and visit the survivors and their school. - Sapa