North West Premier Thandi Modise is saddened by the deaths of three children who lost their lives after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a crash at a railway crossing in Rustenburg on Thursday.
In conveying condolences to the families that lost their loved ones in the crash and wishing those in hospital a speedy recovery, Premier Modise called on road traffic management authorities to clamp down on reckless driving, overloading, and illegal learner transportation.
“Although Transnet spend R4, 8 million on the Road Safety Level Crossing Project launched in partnership with the Department of Transport and the Provincial Road Traffic Management to bring down level crossing fatalities which were caused by over 30 crashes in the past five years in Rustenburg alone, drivers who ignore rules of the road and warnings not to beat trains at level crossings are still putting lives of passengers at risk,” stressed Modise.
The Premier called on parents to ensure that their children are transported in properly licensed scholar transport vehicles and not packed like sardines.
According to police, the driver of a Toyota Avanza that was transporting 12 pre and primary school children, between Zinniaville and Rustenburg Noord allegedly decided to pass other motorists who were waiting at the train level crossing to allow an oncoming train to pass.
"The vehicle got stuck on the railway level crossing and the oncoming train hit and dragged it resulting in the immediate death of an eight-year-old boy on the spot," Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said.
Two more children were declared dead on arrival at the Job Shimkane Tabane hospital.
"The remaining children and the driver were admitted at the hospital where they are said to be in a critical state."
Colonel Mokgwabone said that police investigating a case of culpable homicide and why the vehicle was illegally ferrying passengers. "At this moment ... [we are looking into] why 12 children were being transported in a vehicle which was not certified to carry passengers as a taxi," said Mokgwabone.
He said that driver faces an additional charge of reckless and negligent driving and that police were also considering charging the driver with overload as well contravening the National Road Traffic Act.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele, Spokesperson
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
