_: Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has expressed sadness at this week’s car accident which claimed the lives of 10 school children from two primary schools in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) midlands.

The learners were travelling at the back of an allegedly speeding bakkie on the R617 between Bulwer and Underberg. The driver of the vehicle lost control and veered off the road onto an embankment. Ten other children are still in critical condition.

“It is sad to lose so many of our children’s lives under these circumstances. Together with our KwaZulu-Natal counterparts in Education and Transport and traffic police, we will investigate why a bakkie was transporting school children as this is against our policy.

We are working with the KZN provincial government to intensify our efforts to provide adequate school transport. We will also investigate the claims that the bakkie was the only available mode of transports for the learners, and provide counseling support to learners, teachers and parents”, said Motshekga.