Hlalele’s family grieves the loss of four children in the Carltonville crash. See what the father said that left everyone in tears.
- Family who lost 4 children in Carletonville crash says transport was not safe
- Carletonville Crash:12 School Children And Driver Killed In South Africa Minibus Crash
Relatives of some of the 11 pupils who died in Wednesday’s horrific crash in Carletonville, said that the children were being transported in a vehicle that was not conducive or safe.
Four Of The Children Were From One Family.
- Four of the children were from one family.
- The Hlalela family said that buckets and tins were being used as makeshift car seats in the vehicle.
- Twelve people died when a bakkie hit the school taxi.
- The driver was among the dead.
- On Wednesday, investigators probing the deadly accident said that the minibus taxi was roadworthy.
- But relatives of four of the children who lost their lives, cousins, Hlompho, Reneilwe, Thato, and Sihle Hlalele, said that they experienced something else.
“It’s a taxi transporting children, yet it doesn’t have the right seats, it’s just buckets and tins” said Uncle Aviva Manqa.
Meanwhile, DNA testing to identify the other victims will begin Friday morning.
Hlalele family grieves the loss of four children in Carletonville crash
A Johannesburg family is in deep mourning following the tragic loss of four children in Wednesday’s devastating Carletonville crash. The fatal accident, which claimed the lives of eleven pupils and the driver, occurred when a bakkie collided with the minibus taxi they were traveling in, causing it to overturn and burst into flames.
Initially, it was reported that twelve children had died, but the death toll has since been revised to eleven.
Its understood the mini-bus the learners were travelling in was hit by a white bakkie, causing the bus to overturn before it caught fire.#KayaNews NPM https://t.co/Dsod9xKEJx pic.twitter.com/beYHkDJ61Q
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) July 10, 2024
Among the victims were four children from the Hlalele family. The family’s spokesperson, Aviva Manqa, spoke to the media on Thursday, expressing the family’s gratitude for the government’s support during this difficult time.
“Firstly, we are very grateful for receiving support from the two MECs because it is when such bad things happen that one looks to see what those who govern us have to say about this misfortune. When we saw the Transport and Education MECs walk in, we knew that at least we had the support. We have received messages of support from the premier’s office, saying that they are also hurting like us,” Manqa said.
The Hlalele family is urging authorities to swiftly determine the cause of the fiery crash. “Our major concern is really what happened. The children’s grandmother told the MEC about the state of the taxi that the children were in. The taxi carried the children, but it did not have good-quality seats. The children used buckets as seats. We, as the family, only want the investigations to be concluded quickly so that we can have closure,” Manqa added.
Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, speaking outside the Hlalele family home, emphasized that her department is investigating whether the taxi was licensed to transport children. “The team is busy with investigations, so we are able to give answers. For now, we do not have answers. We do not know whether the car was licensed accordingly and whether the owner had a permit to transport children. I need the service providers to start caring enough for our children, let’s not think profits only. This is our future as the country, and we cannot subject them to what they are subjected to on a daily basis,” Diale-Tlabela stated.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane also mentioned that they are expediting the DNA tests to help families lay their children to rest as soon as possible. “Because of the emergency of the matter, we requested for the DNAs to be concluded quickly. Some families want to lay their children to rest by Saturday,” Chiloane said.
The entire community is reeling from this tragedy as the investigation continues and families seek answers and closure.
