Pietermaritzburg residents are reeling after yet another accident involving scholar transport in the Imbali township. On Friday morning, just a day after five schoolchildren tragically lost their lives in a separate crash at the same location, another taxi transporting learners lost control and veered off the road. This latest incident left three learners with minor injuries, sparking renewed concerns about the safety of scholar transport in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Friday accident occurred around 8 a.m. when a minibus taxi, operating as a school transport vehicle, crashed in the exact area where Thursday’s deadly collision took place. Witnesses, including journalists and a television news crew who were on-site covering the aftermath of the earlier tragedy, were stunned as the new crash unfolded before their eyes.
According to KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service spokesperson Craig Botha, paramedics rushed to the scene immediately after receiving reports of the collision. “KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to the scene of a motor vehicle collision involving a taxi carrying school children in the Imbali area of Pietermaritzburg at approximately 08:00 this morning. The incident occurred while a TV news crew was filming the aftermath of a separate collision from the previous day. A taxi carrying school children to their respective schools inexplicably lost control. No serious injuries or fatalities were reported. Three children sustained minor injuries and paramedics rendered immediate medical attention to the patients,” Botha confirmed.
This follows the devastating accident on Thursday in which five learners, aged between 11 and 15, died when their scholar transport vehicle ploughed into a daycare centre after the driver reportedly lost control. Nine other learners sustained serious injuries in that tragedy, with some still fighting for their lives in hospital. Families, educators, and the broader community have been left heartbroken and traumatized by the loss.
The proximity and timing of the two accidents have raised pressing questions about the safety standards, regulation, and monitoring of scholar transport in the province. Scholar transport is a lifeline for thousands of children in KwaZulu-Natal, especially in townships and rural areas where public transport options are limited. However, incidents like these highlight persistent challenges such as poor vehicle maintenance, unqualified drivers, and overloaded taxis.
Authorities have already launched investigations into both crashes. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MECs and community leaders are under pressure to enforce stricter safety measures, including regular inspections of vehicles and proper training of drivers. Many parents are now calling for urgent reforms, emphasizing that their children’s safety cannot be compromised.
For the residents of Imbali, the past two days have been marked by grief, fear, and disbelief. What was once a routine daily commute for learners has turned into a nightmare for families who simply want their children to get to school safely. While Friday’s incident resulted in only minor injuries, the fact that it occurred in the exact same location as Thursday’s tragedy underscores the urgent need for action.
As investigations continue, the community is left with heavy hearts and unanswered questions. Until concrete steps are taken to address the systemic issues surrounding scholar transport, parents remain fearful that similar tragedies could occur again. For now, Pietermaritzburg mourns the young lives already lost and hopes that urgent reforms will prevent further heartbreak.
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