Despite the stormy and wintry conditions, more than 300 residents and officials gathered in AZ Berman Drive in Mitchell’s Plain to light candles and commemorate the five young lives lost in the horrific accident yesterday morning (30 May).
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Western Cape minister for mobility, Ricardo MacKenzie met with the parents of the children and attended the event last night (30 May).
“It was a gathering by the community of Mitchell’s Plain and expressing our condolences to the family of the deceased. Holding the family in our heart and our thoughts,” he says.
“The expressing of the community was of love and holding each other’s hand during this very very difficult time.”
MacKenzie joined local ward councillors and volunteers at the event, organized via social media by a resident.
He says this was a show of solidarity.
“We lit candles and dealt out balloons to show that as a community, we care. We are thinking of the young ones who we lost this morning and the families,” he said at the time.
It is understood the Toyota Hilux bakkie transporting children aged between six and 15 collided with a traffic light.
Five children, aged between seven and 11, died on impact, with a six and 15-year-old transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The driver (55) was later arrested on charges of culpable homicide.
Onlookers described the scene as horrific.
MacKenzie again reiterated that residents should be mindful of the families when sharing graphic images taken at the scene on social media.
