Parliament, Thursday, 11 July 2024 – The Portfolio Committee on Transport sends its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the 12 Carletonville learners and the driver who died on Wednesday in a fatal road accident, reportedly after a bakkie drove into the back of the car they were travelling in. Seven other learners were rushed to hospital and the committee wishes them a speedy recovery.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Mr Donald Selamolela, has said the departments involved with scholar transport needed to take full charge of how and when learners are transported to and from school.
Mr Selamolela called on law enforcement to investigate the incident with speed and also urged all parties involved to work together. “It is concerning that 12 learners would perish like that in a scholar transport. This calls for a rethink of minimum safety standards around scholar transport and of the vehicle types used for this purpose,” Mr Selamolela said.
“The incident seems to point to issues of driver behaviour and recklessness. These are issues that have come to characterise many fatal incidents on our roads; sadly, some incidents are entirely unnecessary. A plan to penalise reckless drivers needs to be devised, and those found to have been reckless should be liable for criminal conduct,” he continued.
Mr Selamolela said it was deeply concerning when providing transport to learners, which could be considered an act of ubuntu, is negatively affected by despicable conduct and reckless driving. “How our children are transport must at least show some level of dignity, safety and punctuality. This service should be priority from all role players,” he concluded.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, MR DONALD SELAMOLELA.
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