The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that took place this morning in iMbali, Pietermaritzburg, where a school taxi crashed into a crèche, claiming the lives of five young children and injuring eight others.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families who have lost their loved ones, and our prayers are with the children who remain in hospital fighting for their lives. No parent should have to endure such devastation, and no child’s journey to school should end in tragedy.
This horrific incident highlights yet again the urgent need to address school transport safety in our province. The DA calls on the MEC for Transport to launch a full and transparent investigation into the cause of the accident and to report publicly on the findings.
At the same time, we urge the provincial government to prioritise:
- Strengthening enforcement of road safety and vehicle fitness standards for school transport.
- Ensuring proper driver vetting, training, and accountability.
- Implementing traffic calming and safety infrastructure around schools and crèches.
- Providing immediate counselling and trauma support for affected families, learners, and educators.
- The safety of our children must be non-negotiable.
We stand with the grieving families and the iMbali community during this time of mourning and reaffirm our commitment to fighting for safer, more accountable school transport systems in KwaZulu-Natal.