Nhlazatshe – At least 40 schoolchildren were injured on Wednesday when two buses they were travelling in collided along the R534 road in Nhlazatshe, near Elukwatini, Mpumalanga.
The injured schoolchildren were transported to hospital.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the brakes of the bus following behind failed. Unable to stop it crashed into the bus in front.
The collision occurred when the schoolchildren were travelling to Elukwatini Stadium, where Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga was to preside over an event about various career opportunities available in her department.
The minister’s visit was also aimed at inspecting the state of the roads and projects underway in the area.
Expressing her disappointment at the crash scene, ahead of her scheduled engagements, Minister Chikunga said she would also visit the hospital to check on the schoolchildren hurt in the collision
The minister said she was relieved that there were no fatalities.
However, she was about unroadworthy vehicles, which endanger the lives of schoolchildren.
“The information says that the accident happened after the brakes of one the buses failed,” said Minister Chikanga.
“Fortunately, there were no fatalities… [but] we cannot allow vehicles that are not meant to be on the road to put people’s lives at risk.”
