Five families from Khayelitsha had the heart-wrenching task of identifying their children’s bodies at the Observatory Forensic Pathology Institute this morning (Wednesday 31 May).
The children died during a horror crash in Mitchell’s Plain yesterday.
The learners, aged between five and 15 years, were on their way to school when the driver of the bakkie, a man (55), allegedly lost control of the vehicle.
Besides the fatalities, another two children were injured in the crash.
One has since been discharged from hospital while the other, a 15-year-old, is still in critical condition in ICU at Groote Schuur Hospital.
READ | ‘No one should go through what the families are going through’: Mitchell’s Plain engulfed by grief
Western Cape Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie says the vehicle was transporting learners illegally.
“Anyone who is transporting passengers – especially children whose bodies are more vulnerable to injury – has the weighty responsibility to keep them safe. Vehicles must be roadworthy; drivers must be qualified and an operating licence is required to transport passengers,” says MacKenzie.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo supported the families this morning.
According to Mbombo, autopsies are to be done on the bodies soon.
“It is really sad. Because it is Child Protection Week when we are supposed to protect our children. Then we have this situation where all five children die. According to our forensic pathologists, they might be able to complete autopsies by tomorrow morning so that if there is a need to do burials, the bodies can be released to the parents.”
Mbombo says the distraught families are receiving counselling. The driver of the vehicle transporting the children was arrested yesterday.
He faces a charge of culpable homicide.
