A tragic accident has left at least 20 learners seriously injured after a minibus-taxi they were travelling in veered off the P127 road and plunged down the KwaKhetha bridge near Impendle in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The incident, which occurred on a morning commute, has once again raised concerns surrounding the safety of learner transport in the region.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the taxi was carrying students from several schools, including Matomela High School, Luthando High School, and Sthunjwana Primary School, when it suddenly lost control. The vehicle fell several metres from the bridge, causing panic among parents and the local community.
This accident marks the third similar crash involving learner transport in the KZN Umgungundlovu District in just five days. The string of tragic incidents is prompting calls for urgent action to improve safety regulations for school transport in the area. Tragically, three students lost their lives in a prior crash on Thursday, with others still receiving care in hospitals.
According to Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesperson for the KZN Transport Department, the taxi driver fled the scene immediately after the crash. Sibiya expressed serious concern over the driver’s disappearance, stating, “Most disturbing is that the taxi driver disappeared, and law enforcement agencies are looking for him.”
The injured learners were swiftly taken to local medical facilities, including Gomane Clinic and Harry Gwala Regional Hospital, to receive the care they urgently need. Sibiya noted the grave situation of the injured, urging the South African National Taxi Council to convene for discussions regarding the recurring accidents involving transport services for students in KwaZulu-Natal.