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Scholar Transport picking up students
The familes of two Grade R learners in Ga-Masemola, in Limpopo, are devastated after the overloaded minibus taxi they were traveling in caught fire on Wednesday. Seven other learners, who were in the same taxi, have been hospitalised with burn wounds.
Two leaners, however, were burnt beyond recognition.
The driver of the minibus taxi, a 44-year-old man has been arrested and faces multiple charges including culpable homicide and contravening traffic rules, when it emerged that the taxi was overloaded at the time of the accident.
The accident happened while Kgodisho Moruthanyane and Lethukuthula Fankomo and 20 of their school mates were being transported from Mannyetha Primary School in the neighbouring village.
The vehicle caught fire while the school children were enroute, badly burning seven learners who were rushed to hospital. But sadly, Kgodisho and Lethukuthula did not survive.
Lethukuthula’s aunt Dina Matlawa says the family is struggling to come to terms with her death.
“It is truly difficult. We are struggling to come to terms with her death. We know it is God’s will, we accept his will but it is painful. We wanted her to grow and succeed, it was her first year in school.”
Meanwhile, authoritiies are conducting DNA tests to positively identify their remains.
Kgodisho’s uncle, Mampholo Masemola says she was an obedient child who did well at school and whose parents were expecting much from. He has urged the police to speed up the DNA forensic process.
“On Thursday, we went to the police station for DNA tests. As a family, we are requesting the officials or people that have powers to help us to speed up the process of the DNA tests so we can bring the matter to rest.”
The driver of the scholar transport appeared in the Nebo Magistrate’s Court where he faces charges of culpable homicide and contravening the rules of the road. He will be remanded in custody until next week Tuesday.
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