A missing shoe, blood splatters, and remnants of human tissue litter the R553 stretch of Golden Highway in Vanderbijlpark, a haunting reminder of Monday’s tragic scholar transport accident that claimed the lives of 14 school children.

This comes as a chorus of voices—comprised of various political affiliations—gathered on Thursday under a sunny sky for a candlelight ceremony, organised by COSATU and its affiliates, to honour the deceased and extend condolences to their bereaved families.

Among the mourners was Sibongile Genu, a resident and member of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO).

Genu expressed her deep-seated trauma tied to her daily commute. “Travelling on this road has become a big source of trauma and headache for me. My travels have not been the same since Monday. I don’t think it will ever be the same. I’m forced to use this road because there is no alternative route,” Genu said.

Genu called for regular police and law enforcement visibility in this part of the city, as she further voiced her concerns about the dangerous traffic conditions along the road, which stretches over 30 kilometres towards Orange Farm and Soweto.

“Perhaps what needs to happen is that the government should look into expanding this road. There is usually a lot of traffic, with little to no traffic police or law enforcement happening on this route,” she suggested.

During the candlelight ceremony, MEC for Public Safety, Faith Mazibuko, delivered heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the tragedy.

“Our roads must be safer,” she asserted. “If people are reckless on the road with the lives of our young people, it is a clear demonstration that they don’t care about the lives of our children.”

She further emphasised that programmes aimed at promoting road safety could be established within churches and schools.

“We are saddened by this tragedy as the provincial government. If people are reckless on the road with the lives of our young people, it is a clear demonstration that they don’t care about the lives of our children. The message is that people should avoid driving after a night out, and we urge schools, parents, and teachers to help in this regard,” she asserted.

The sombre candlelight event coincided with the appearance of the now murder-accused 22-year-old, Andile Dludla, who on Thursday chose to abandon his bail application at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, where he now faces 14 counts of murder for Monday’s horrible incident.

Twelve learners were initially killed in Monday’s crash involving a minibus taxi and a truck, and now with the two additional deaths, which were confirmed by Gauteng police spokesperson, Lt Colonel Mavela Masondo, Dludla now faces a much more 14 counts of murder for reckless and negligent driving.

Masondo provided further insight into the gravity of the charges.

“The 22-year-old scholar transport driver is now facing fourteen (14) counts of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving after two more learners died in hospital.”  

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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