Two pupils from Cape Town recently died in separate accidents involving minibus taxis. In both incidents, they were travelling in allegedly overloaded vehicles.
Also read: Several children injured after taxi overturns in Mitchells Plain
On Tuesday, 18 April, Lina Dyantyi was on her way to Hazeldene Primary School when the driver of the vehicle she was in allegedly ran a red robot and drove into a fence. The 11-year-old was subsequently flung from the vehicle, and landed on tarred ground at the Swartklip dumping site, according to News24. According to her mother, Zukella, the police told her that the driver was drunk and speeding. ‘I am very angry and sad. He was not supposed to be drunk fetching our children from school.’
She adds that her nephew, who was also a passenger, allegedly told the driver to slow down, though he did not. She also states that neither the driver nor the owner of the transport company had contacted Lina’s family. ‘No apology was given for taking my child’s life. I was at work when I got the call to say there was an accident. Immediately I rushed to the scene where my daughter was still lying. It was terrible to see her there; it was hard to see her like that.’
Captain FC van Wyk, Western Cape police spokesperson, says a case of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving has been opened. ‘The accused is an undocumented person from Zimbabwe and has appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court already.’
At a memorial held for Lina at Hazeldene Primary School, her classmates sang, lit candles and recited each letter of her name. Her funeral will take place on Saturday, in the Eastern Cape.
In a separate incident, a Grade 5 learner from Rocklands Primary School succumbed to his injuries in a Mitchells Plain hospital after the minibus taxi – a Toyota Quantum – that he was travelling in overturned.
According to Van Wyk, the Quantum collided with a BMW on the corner of Marguerite Street and AZ Berman Drive just after 8am on Monday. ‘The Toyota Quantum, at the time of the incident, was transporting 24 passengers, all scholars from various schools across Mitchells Plain. One of the children, a boy, was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and later succumbed due to injuries sustained.’
Though a case of culpable homicide is under investigation, no arrests have been made. ‘The cause of the accident is currently under investigation,’ says Van Wyk.
It has been confirmed by Bronagh Hammond, Western Cape Department of Education spokesperson, that both vehicles were privately owned.
David Maynier, Education MEC, noted his disappointment that the vehicles were reportedly overloaded. ‘I am deeply concerned by reports that the taxi was overloaded. We will monitor the progress of the investigation closely. We offer our deepest condolences to the parents and school and ask that their privacy is respected as they grieve.’
Mandla Hermanus, South African National Taxi Association spokesperson, says scholar transport providers need to be regulated by law enforcement. ‘It cannot be that a taxi that should be carrying 15 passengers is found carrying almost double that number. The City’s by-laws, which focus solely on impounding vehicles and allowing drivers to get away with reckless driving, are contributing to the increase in errant driving on our roads.’
Also read:
Family mourn death of soccer star struck by taxi drivers in freak accident
Picture: Facebook / SA Taxi