As the City of Ekurhuleni was reeling from the death of 13 bus passengers following Tuesday morning's bus crash along the R21 highway, on Wednesday, Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Matome Chiloane visited the families of the three learners who died in Monday's accident on the N12 in Daveyton, also in Ekurhuleni.

Chiloane and the members of his department visited the grieving families of the young learners from Tom Newby Primary, Rynfield Primary, and an ECD centre who tragically lost their lives in the N12 accident.

The deceased include two Grade 1 and Grade 3 boy learners, who were siblings, from Tom Newby Primary School in Benoni, as well as a Grade 1 learner from Rynfield Primary School, also in Benoni.

Additionally, another learner in Grade 3 from Rynfield Primary School is reported to be in critical condition as a result of the accident. This learner has been admitted to a local hospital for urgent medical care.

It is alleged that the accident involved a collision between multiple vehicles on the N12 westbound near the Putfontein Road off-ramp in Daveyton, resulting in the tragic loss of life.

According to the department, law enforcement agencies are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to establish the exact cause.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Moipone Mhlongo joined Chiloane in expressing the province's solidarity and sympathies for the recent incident.

Chiloane said: "We are here in support of the three families because their loss is our loss. We want to visit families in good times... It pains us that in the past week alone, there has been a concerning surge in road accidents in this area, taking innocent lives too soon.

"We, therefore, urge all road users to be extra vigilant, especially when transporting our little ones. Let us remain cautious, responsible, and prayerful. May the young souls we lost rest in peace, and may we work together to prevent further tragedies."

Meanwhile, as the MEC was visiting the families of the learners, another bus carrying school children was reported to have collided with a truck on Blackreef Road and Dekema Road near Wadeville, Germiston.

According to Thabiso Makgato, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) spokesperson, the incident happened when the pupils were being transported from the Ramaphosa informal settlement to Segutlong Primary School.

"One 12-year-old boy has slight injuries, and the rest of the children are also being given medical attention. We have no fatalities," said Makgato.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) said it was devastated by the tragic deaths of the young children in Ekurhuleni.

Sadtu's general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, said the union stands in solidarity with the families, schools, and communities affected by this tragedy.

"This tragic accident has left us all in deep sorrow. We mourn the loss of these young lives and extend our deepest sympathies to their families and the school communities," Maluleke said.

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za

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Three Ekurhuleni learners killed in N12 crash, Education MEC consoles grieving families