{"id":49660,"date":"2023-05-30T12:22:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T10:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/mitchells-plain-scholar-transport-tragedy-mayor-mourns-lives-lost-on-dark-day-for-cape-town-20230530\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T20:59:05","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:59:05","slug":"mitchells-plain-scholar-transport-tragedy-mayor-mourns-lives-lost-on-dark-day-for-cape-town-20230530","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/mitchells-plain-scholar-transport-tragedy-mayor-mourns-lives-lost-on-dark-day-for-cape-town-20230530\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitchell\u2019s Plain scholar transport tragedy: Mayor mourns lives lost on \u2018dark day\u2019 for Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of five children, with another still in a critical condition in hospital, on AZ Berman Drive this morning (30 May). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learners from Wespoort Primary School, Lentegeur High School, Duneside Primary School, Highlands Primary School, Harvester Way Primary School and Ridgeville Primary School were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to convey my deepest and sincerest condolences to the families experiencing the heartache of their tragic loss,\u201d says Ward 43 councillor and subcouncil chair Elton Jansen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another learner has been transported to a nearby hospital, and is still in a critical condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The

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The scene in AZ Berman Drive, in Mitchell\u2019s Plain remains cordoned off where five children lost their lives in a horrific accident this morning.<\/div>\n
People\u2019s Post<\/span> Brian Delily<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brandon Lavelot, a scholar transport driver operating in the area says he is saddened by the accident after being alerted to it via social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelling this route daily, he passed the scene mere moments before the crash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI frequent this road daily in the morning and this morning roads were wet but the robots at the intersection were working fine as load shedding only started at 08:00. I have never experienced an accident of this nature, it is just heartbreaking,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy tears have been rolling all morning. I also transport kids and every day is different on the road, but our aim is to transport kids safely to school and home. Just after 08:00, I received frantic messages from parents asking if their kids were safe and then the news was all over the radio. The worst is that people made videos and took pictures and it was broadcast all over social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cSomeone\u2019s child, their small bodies laying lifeless on the road in the rain, the school books and lunch strewn all across the road. My heartfelt condolences to the parents, families and friends. May their souls rest in peace.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

According to reports, a bakkie transporting the children was involved in a collision causing the children to be flung from the back of the vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI call for the banning of transporting (learners) on open vehicles\/bakkies, overcrowded vehicles, and vehicles without the necessary safety measures,\u201d says Jansen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"This

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This bakkie, transporting children to various schools in the area was involved in the accident. The circumstances are under investigation.<\/div>\n
People\u2019s Post<\/span> Brian Delily<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

According to police spokesperson, Stg Wesley Twigg, Mitchell\u2019s Plain Police registered a culpable homicide case for investigation following the fatal crash \u201cwhich claimed the lives of five children in AZ Berman Drive, Mitchell\u2019s Plain this morning, 30 May, at about 07:30. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has offered his condolences to the families involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur City mourns together with the families of (learners) who died in the fatal crash in Mitchell\u2019s Plain this morning. This is a terrible, dark day in our city. As a parent, my heart breaks for those who will not see their children return home from school today. While it can never restore the lives so tragically taken, we trust that authorities will establish the full facts surrounding this incident so that there may be accountability for any wrongdoing,\u201d says Hill-Lewis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Anyone with any information about this incident is requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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