The death toll in the school bus, which went down an embankment at Lwandile village near Ngqeleni in the Eastern Cape, has risen to five. Earlier it was reported that three learners had died on the scene and one on the way to hospital.
Arrive Alive spokesperson Tshepo Machaea says emergency personnel have found a body of another learner in the wreckage. More than 30 learners of Nogemane Senior Secondary School were injured. Machaea says police are investigating the cause of the accident.
“According to the bus driver the bus had a mechanical fault and it went down an embankment. Plus / minus 30 school children have been hospitalized including the driver. A case of culpable homicide and the reckless driving might be opened,” says Machaea. Some of the learners’ parents expressed concern regarding the road worthiness of the bus
“We are very hurt because we have been receiving reports from our children that the bus is not in good condition, we would like the department to inspect these buses. As parents in these villages we are hurt because some of our children died and others injured,” says a concerned parent.
[SABCnews.co.za]