The driver involved in the deadly Mitchell’s Plain accident that killed five schoolchildren, it was discovered, had no permit to operate his transport business.
Driver involved in fatal Mitchell’s Plain accident was a stand-in
The Mitchell’s Plain community was struck by an overwhelming sense of despair and anguish following the horrifying crash on AZ Berman Drive, on Tuesday morning.
As reported by Daily Maverick, Cape Town law enforcement swiftly took action and apprehended the 55-year-old driver responsible for the fatal crash.
Not long after police launched a culpable homicide investigation, it was discovered that the driver was not the regular operator of the vehicle, and tragically, one of the deceased children was his niece.
The regular driver had inexplicably failed to report for duty on that fateful day. Furthermore, it was determined that the vehicle was engaged in illegal transportation of learners, as highlighted by the Western Cape government.
More details surface on Mitchell’s Plain accident
In a statement, Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier expressed his heartfelt sympathy. He acknowledged the unimaginable grief experienced by parents, stating that, as a parent himself, he could hardly fathom the anguish they must endure.
While specific details regarding the incident remain limited, Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie revealed that the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn and resulting in children being tragically ejected from the rear of the vehicle.
Mackenzie emphasised that the circulating images of a bus and a taxi on social media were unrelated to the accident, clarifying that they were merely in the vicinity when the tragedy occurred.
Furthermore, he stated that the driver in question was not a registered driver with a permit and did not appear in any official databases.
Transport dept confirms transport was ‘privately arranged’
It is common for parents to arrange private scholar transport for their children, particularly when studying far from their homes.
These privately owned services are predominantly organised without government involvement. Mackenzie confirmed that the vehicle involved in Tuesday’s crash was privately arranged by the parents, with no direct involvement from his department or the WCED.
Tragically, this incident is not the first of its kind in Mitchell’s Plain, as Mackenzie disclosed that fatal crashes involving learners being transported to school have previously occurred in the area.
Earlier this year, two separate incidents claimed the lives of primary school learners from Hazeldene Primary School and Rocklands Primary.
Mackenzie further confirmed that the vehicle involved in the crash—a bakkie—was not authorised to transport schoolchildren, underscoring the urgency to address the safety and regulatory concerns surrounding scholar transport arrangements.
