The driver of the vehicle involved in the tragic accident yesterday morning, which claimed the lives of five schoolchildren, has been arrested.
Also read: Traffic accident claims the lives of five schoolchildren in Cape Town
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg says the 55-year-old faces a charge of culpable homicide and will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court. ‘We can also confirm that two children, (aged) six and 15 were transported to the hospital for medical treatment.’
Condolences for the families of the pupils poured in on social media yesterday. The Imaamat Council of Mitchell’s Plain (Council of Theologians) also commented on the incident: ‘This tragic accident signals the need for stricter regulation with regard to the transportation of learners and passengers. We call upon the authorities to lodge a full investigation to determine the cause of this horrific accident.’
A Cape Town-based funeral service offered a full funeral free of charge for one of the families, while the Faith Apostolic Centre offered their church services to the families for free as well.
The provincial minister for mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, also met with the parents of the deceased children yesterday, as per News24. ‘My heart goes out to them. Further to this it’s really sad that parents find out via social media their children have died. Please, please think when posting accident pictures.’
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