South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, has inspected the scene of a tragic accident in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, where five schoolchildren lost their lives.
He was accompanied by the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, and officials of the Mpumalanga government to the scene of the collision between a bus and train.
The collision occurred when a train plowed into a scholar transport bus in Middelburg, around midday on Thursday when the bus, carrying the students home from school, was struck at a level crossing.
The incident unfolded around midday as the bus, which was carrying students home from school, crossed the tracks.
Mr Hlengwa visited the crash site to assess the situation first-hand and gather information about the circumstances of the accident.
The loss of young lives has shocked the local community and raised questions about transport safety for schoolchildren in the area.
Authorities have not yet released details about the cause of the collision or the exact number of injuries.
It is expected that the transport ministry will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the factors that led to the tragic outcome.
The visit by a high-ranking government official underscores the seriousness with which the authorities are treating this incident.
Further updates are anticipated as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available.
