Only one family has been able to identify a child who perished in the minibus taxi accident in Carletonville this week.
By the time the police forensic workers reached the end of the first day of the DNA identification process on Friday, the family identified their child through a photograph. Police spokesperson Kgomotso Netshitangani said the police team hoped more victims would be identified.
“We were hoping maybe three but only one could be identified. The next phase is to compare the DNA samples taken on Friday with the bodies,” Netshitangani said.
Twelve people died in the horror crash involving a scholar transport vehicle on Wednesday. Among the dead was the driver of the minibus taxi.
Some of the relatives of the 11 pupils who died said the children were being transported in a vehicle that was unsafe.
However, the investigators probing the accident said the minibus taxi had been roadworthy.
The investigators’ report was disputed by grieving relatives who said the scholar transport seats were in tatters, adding that the minibus driver had replaced the seats with buckets and tins.
During his visit to the accident scene, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane urged parents to check the condition of the vehicles that transported their children to school. Chiloane revealed that at the time of the accident the minibus taxi had been overloaded.
“I have met some of the private scholar transport operators that ferry children. This is a private agreement between a transport operator and the parents, but I always say parents must check the condition of the transport that takes their children to school.
“I stopped one in the area of Motsoeding and the minibus had about 45 kids and I asked myself when these people keep putting 45 kids into the taxi, what are they saying?” said Chiloane.
Chiloane said everybody needed to play a particular role and take responsibility.
Meanwhile, Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the department was yet to establish whether the vehicle was licensed.
“As of now, we don’t know whether the car was licensed and whether the driver or the owner had a permit to transport children.
“This was a private education transport provider, so we don’t have many details. The team is busy investigating so that we can give answers,” Diale-Tlabela said.
Newly appointed Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has sent her deep condolences to the families, friends and schooling community of the learners from Rocklands Primary School and Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville.
“The loss of loved ones is never easy. The loss is markedly acute when it is our children that we have to bury.
“We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the parents of the children. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, hoping that healing and grace locate you.
“We also wish the learners who were hurt in the accident a full and speedy recovery,” said Gwarube.
The DBE said Gwarube was in contact with Chiloane to be kept abreast of updates.
Saturday Star