Note to Editors: Please note Riona Gokool, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is deeply concerned by this mornings’ head-on collision between two minibus taxis on the R69 near Hlobane, which has left 24 people injured – the majority of them schoolchildren.
According to reports, the crash occurred during the morning school transport commute when a fully loaded learner taxi collided with another taxi. Emergency personnel were met with a devastating scene, with critically injured passengers, including young children, requiring urgent medical intervention.
The DA extends its thoughts and prayers to all the injured learners, their families, educators, and the broader Hlobane community during this traumatic time. We also commend the emergency responders, firefighters, SAPS members, traffic officials, and medical personnel who acted swiftly under extremely distressing circumstances to save lives and stabilise the injured.
This latest incident again highlights the ongoing crisis surrounding learner transport safety and road law enforcement in KZN and across South Africa. Far too many children are being placed at risk daily due to unsafe roads, reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and inadequate oversight within the public transport sector.
The DA calls on KZN’s Department of Transport (DoT) and all relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure:
• A full and transparent investigation into the cause of the collision;
• Immediate inspections of learner transport vehicles operating in the area;
• Stricter enforcement of roadworthiness and driver compliance regulations;
• Increased traffic policing on high-risk rural routes such as the R69 and;
• Urgent implementation of sustainable road safety interventions to protect learners and commuters.
Our children deserve safe and reliable transport to and from school. It cannot be acceptable that parents should have to send their children to school each morning fearing they may not return home safely.
As a partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA will continue to advocate for stronger accountability and practical interventions to improve road safety and protect vulnerable road users throughout our province.