Mchunu saddened over children's deaths

Johannesburg - KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety MEC Willies Mchunu on Wednesday expressed sadness over the deaths of at least six children who were killed when a bakkie overturned on Edendale Road, Pietermaritzburg.

"It is extreme unfortunate that we have to learn of yet another loss of young lives in a bakkie accident," Mchunu said in a statement.

"This is despite our repeated calls for all stakeholders to take collective responsibility for road safety by, among others, ensuring that bakkies are used for what they are made for, which include works, and not to ferry people," he said.

The department said six children were killed in the accident, seven were critically injured and nine sustained minor injuries.

ER24 spokesperson Pieter Rossouw it appeared the bakkie veered off the road and crashed into a fence and a house.

"The collision killed six children under the age of 13 and left 18 others injured," he said.

Of the injured, seven were critical, nine sustained moderate injuries and two had minor injuries.

Mchunu said the bakkie was alleged to have been carrying 34 school pupils, and questioned why this allowed to have happened.

"How does it come about that a bakkie carries 34 people?"

"This is not an overload but a recipe for disaster."

He sent his condolences to the families of the children that were killed and said the department would investigate the cause of the accident.