hired minibus taxi collide head-on with a truck outside Lichtenburg town, North
West at 4am (Saturday)
26 June 2006
A number of 14 primary school teachers, all of them women, died instantly
early on Saturday when the hired minibus taxi they were travelling in was
involved in a head on collision with a truck near Lichtenburg.
The accident happened at about 4h00 am.
North West MEC for Transport, Roads and Community Safety, Mr Jerry Thibedi,
has expressed shock and at the untimely death of 14 educators.
There were in total 16 passengers in the minibus taxi.
âI find it shocking that this accident happened at the same spot where I
launched the provincial Arrive Alive Campaign and Operation Emisa Campaign a
day or two before the Easter weekend this year.â
âThe death of so many educators has robbed learners of people who were
responsible for shaping their future. It is going to take the families of the
dead and learners some time cope with this sad and untimely loss.
âOn behalf of my Department, the provincial government and the entire
education fraternity we want to send our sincere condolences to the families
and relatives of the deceased,â Thibedi said.
The driver of minibus and another woman, who was the only survivors, was
freed from the wreckage. Both are in a critical condition at local hospital in
Litchenburg. The truck driver and his passenger suffered minor injuries and
were being treated for shock at the said hospital.
Preliminary investigations into the cause of the accident suggest that the
hired minibus travelling from Mafikeng towards Lichtenburg had a tyre
burst.
The driver then lost control of the vehicle and collided head on with a
truck that was travelling in the opposite direction.
Moreover, 13 of the victims died on impact and one was certified dead on
arrival at the hospital. Their bodies were trapped inside the minibus and were
freed by members of the emergency services who had to use the jaws of life.
According to information, which still has to be confirmed, the dead were
educators at Diphetogo Primary School in Montshioa, near Mafikeng.
They were apparently travelling to Madidi village near Mabopane, north west
of Pretoria, to attend a funeral.
The bodies, some of them amputated, are kept at the mortuary at a hospital
in Lichtenburg Hospital.
Contact:
Matshube Mfoloe
Director: Communication
Cell: 082 305 4594
Issued by: Department of Safety, Roads and Transport, North West Provincial
Government
26 June 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/)
