At least 20 school kids hurt in taxi bridge plunge — driver on the run

accident

Durban – At least 20 school learners were injured on Monday morning when a minibus taxi veered off the road and plunged a few metres down KwaKhetha Bridge on the P127 in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma said in a statement that the accident occurred at around 07:30.

Learners from Matomela High School, Luthando High School and Sthunjwana Primary School were among the injured. They were transported to Gomane Clinic and to Harry Gwala Regional Hospital in Edendale for treatment.

According to Duma, the driver fled the scene and law-enforcement agencies are searching for him.

“Most disturbing is that the taxi driver disappeared and law-enforcement agencies are looking for him,” the MEC said.

This is the third incident involving scholar transport in the uMgungundlovu District in four days. Three learners died in a separate accident on Thursday and several others remain hospitalised.

Duma called on the South African National Taxi Council in KwaZulu-Natal to intervene and work with government to improve safety in the sector.

He noted that the Automobile Association estimates 70,000 minibus taxi crashes annually, with taxis experiencing double the crash rate of other passenger vehicles.

The MEC also announced a new partnership with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA) – a member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation – to clamp down on unroadworthy vehicles and fraudulent roadworthy certificates.

As part of the collaboration, the province plans to tighten legislation on the taxi and scholar transport industry, introduce stricter compliance and accountability measures, and require biannual certificates of roadworthiness for all heavy passenger vehicles.

The accident comes as the department prepares for October’s Transport Month, during which the new safety measures will be rolled out.

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