One of the parents at the scene said their driver was always taking the children home late.
“Other children with other busses arrived around 2pm from school but those with this driver always arrive after 4pm.
“What we got from the surviving children is that the train hooted but the driver said he’s entering [the level crossing] and that is how the accident happened.
“He was drunk and never respected the rules now we lost our children. Please government must do something,” pleaded the parents.
Jackie Macie, Mpumalanga MEC for community safety, security and liaison said claims that the driver was drunk were allegations that need to be tested by investigations.
Joyce Shabalala, whose one grandchild died and the other broke both legs, said she got a call while in town to rush to the scene.
She said her grandson, Katlego, was taken to hospital. Later, she was told that he had died.
“I’m their grandmother and it’s very painful. I don’t know what to do. Katlego was doing grade 9, Ntokozo (her other grandchild) is in grade 10 and her legs are broken,” said Shabalala.
An elderly man who didn’t want to give his name said he went to the scene after the crash and wanted to removed his trapped grandchild from the wreckage himself out of sheer frustration but police stopped him.
The grandchild is one of the six children who died.
Mandla Khoza
www.sowetanlive.co.za
