Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mandla Makupula, has offered his Department's full support to the families of the five learners who were killed in a horrific accident near Mbizana.
Sixteen other learners from the Gumzana Senior Secondary School were injured when the bakkie ferrying 21 learners collided with a bus early Monday morning.
Department spokesperson, Mali Mtima, outlines what support MEC Makupula had pledged to the grieving families.
"Department's officials were today (Monday) dispatched to communicate the sad news to the families of the deceased.
Three of the five learners were doing grades 10 while two were doing grade 11," Mtima said.
He said tThe Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mandla Makupula, sends his condolences to the family of the deceased.
"I would like to send my heart felt and sincere condolences to the parents and community that has lost its children", said Makupula.
Meanwhile, Eastern Cape Transport MEC, Weziwe Tikana, offered her condolences to the families of the crash victims but also delivered a stern warning about the use of bakkies to ferry learners to schools.
In a statement Monday, MEC Tikana condemned the ferrying of learners in a bakkie, an action which is in contravention with the provisions of Regulation 250 of the National Road Traffic Act which came into effect last month. She said the regulation prohibits the conveying of learners or any persons in a goods compartment of a bakkie for a reward.
"While it has not yet been established whether the vehicle was used as a form of public transport, MEC Tikana has made a passionate plea to parents to ensure that children are not conveyed in a goods compartment of a motor vehicle. This increases the risks of serious injuries and death in an event of an accident occurring," she said.
She further called on motorists and public transport operators to ensure that they adhere to the rules of the road in order to end the senseless killing of people on the provinces roads. "The fact that there were reportedly 21 learners carried in the bakkie is a huge cause for concern and as government we will ensure that we investigate this matter fully and law enforcement will take its course," said Tikana.
A zero tolerance approach on traffic violations has been taken as government battles to reduce the number of road accidents. "As road users we must be willing to cooperate with law enforcement to ensure that we end the road carnage. Road safety is our priority as a department," she said.
