Polokwane – A grade 5 learner from Northampton Primary School in Mopani, Limpopo, has died in a bus crash that occurred after a weekend school sports outing.
“The learner died in an accident when the driver of one of the buses that they were travelling in lost control of the vehicle, veered off the road, crashed into blue gum trees, and overturned,” the Limpopo Education Department said on Monday.
“Sixty-four passengers including teachers and SGB members were rushed to various hospitals and later discharged.
“Four learners, two SGB members, and a teacher are still receiving medical attention at Letaba Hospital outside Nkowankowa.”
The learners were coming back from a sports trip on Saturday when the accident happened.
Their bus crashed on their way back from Graigheid Primary School in Mopani West Education District.
The accident was reported on the road between Kgapane and Tzaneen.
Commenting on the tragedy, Limpopo Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said she was saddened by the death of a grade 5 learner from Northampton Primary School under Molototsi circuit, in Mopani East Education District.
“MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya has passed her heartfelt condolences to the family of a Grade 5 learner who died in the accident and a speedy recovery wishes to those that are still in hospital,” her department said.
The district officials have visited the family of the deceased at Mamatlepa village.
“We are saddened by the untimely death of our learner from Northampton Primary, we know it is a difficult moment for the family to lose such a young life, the learners who were in the bus must be devastated by the experience also,” said MEC Lerule-Ramakhanya.
“We have dispatched social workers to the school for a debriefing and we hope that the intervention will assist.”
The department siad the cause of the accident was under investigation.
“Funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course,”the department said.
