Emotions ran high at Wedela Technical high school during a prayer service for two grade 8 and 10  learners who lost their lives in a bus accident. Sixty three others were injured and rushed to hospital yesterday afternoon. Parents, learners and teachers gathered at the school hall to pray in light of this tragedy.Parents expressed their frustration and anger towards the bus manager questioning him on the quality of the buses.

DRIVER FLEES SCENE

Learners were collapsing, vomiting and screaming, many of them had to be carried out of the hall to be prayed for and given counselling. The incident occurred around the Western Deep Mine Shaft #2 yesterday afternoon as learners were being transported home. It is alleged that the driver lost control of the bus and caused an accident that led to  learners, who were on board, being injured and hospitalised at the local medical facility. The driver is reported to have fled the scene following the accident however he was apprehended by the police and is currently in hospital . Police are currently investigating the circumstances surround this incident. According to a parent whose child was injured, Avela Mangali, the same bus crashed into two stop signs last week. He said on Monday it got stuck and the kids came home around 7pm. "The driver did say that the bus had brake problems so they failed on Thursday , that's why the accident occurred. It occurs to me that these buses that commute our children are clearly not roadworthy, said Mangali.

THE STATE OF THE ROAD

He said as parents they don't know what the condition of the buses are. "These buses aren't the ones that were used at the beginning of the year.
The changes were made without our knowledge. No one wants to take accountability not even the principal. He claims the buses are serviced." A former learner of the school, White Modiakgatla said he was at the scene after the accident occurred. "I was heartbroken to see children lying on the road. The kids on the bus had broken arms and legs and wept hystericaly." Modiakgatla said they  know that the road they travel on is not proper.
"This bus is not the first heavy duty vehicle to have an accident there, the road is not well not maintained . I believe it's negligence on the side of drivers and the school because it should be a norm to do weekly checks on scholar transport."