The MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, is saddened by the death of a leaner as a result of an alleged recklessness of a learner transport bus driver. Learners at Motsaalore Secondary School in Khunotswane in the Ramotshere Moiloa Municipality were leaving for home as usual in the afternoon on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 and boarded their leaner transport bus.
It is reported that a short distance from the school, leaners began to jump from a bus while in motion as the driver allegedly was driving recklessly and lost control of the bus.
According to school management who briefed MEC Morweng on the morning of Thursday, 18 July 2024, when he visited the school, the driver was allegedly not sober and returned to the school yard after children had all jumped off the bus. The leaners whose residences are about 13 kilometres from the school completed their journey on foot.
"On arrival at the school, the driver seemed not to be aware of the incident that took place. We were only made aware by an enraged community members who came running after the bus and told us of the unfortunate incident. However, the driver who appeared delirious at that time denied the incident and claimed he had ensured the bus doors were closed," one of the teachers explained to MEC Morweng.
The ambulance was called and it was then that one of the three learners who had jumped off the bus was found to have passed on. Two other learners were transfered to the nearest hospital.
MEC Morweng expressed shock and sadness for the young life lost. He said an investigation will be conducted and necessary action as per the service level agreement would be taken against the contracted operator. He said one lost life of a child is a loss to the society and send deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the school.
"This is a very sad and heartbreaking situation. I must say that I'm very disappointed of this kind of a behavior where an person old enough to discern wrong from right end up being the one who puts the lives of leaners at risk”, said MEC Morweng.
“We are trying by all means at the Department to ensure that our service providers must provide a safe and reliable transport to our learners but unfortunately these are some of the incidents we have to deal with. We are however working on a permanent solution to ensure this doesn’t recur," said MEC.
The driver was immediately arrested and will appear in court on Friday, 19 July 2024.
MEC Morweng was accompanied by the Head of Department, Dr Hans Kekana and the Chief Directors responsible for Transport Operations and Provincial Secretariat for Police as well as District officials front the Department of Education.
The bus transports learners from Matlhase village to Motsaalore Secondary school in Khunotswane village.