Several children were hurt last Friday morning when a taxi almost crashed into the front of Parliament in Cape Town. A robust metal bollard stopped the minibus from colliding with the gates. The driver and 11 of the children were severely injured, while the rest of them were slightly injured. Unfortunately, one child lost their life. The taxi’s brakes had failed. The Presiding Officers of Parliament offered heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the school pupil that died.
Some of the school principals were present at the scene and accompanied the youngsters to various hospitals and clinics. As far as the images of the accident are concerned, they are horrifying to be watched. The crash is under investigation and appropriate action will be taken.
According to the police, this was a case of reckless and negligent driving
The police opened a case of reckless and/or negligent driving. Although police officers have urged motorists to exercise caution and adhere to the rules of the road, fatalities still occur. Witnesses at the scene say that the taxi driver was speeding. Not only was the taxi overloaded, but also the driver and vehicle were unlicensed. As we all know, unlicensed taxis do more harm than good, even if they’re an essential service to people going to work or children attending school. Not only do drivers break road rules, but also pay bribes to traffic officers.
The fatal crash caused by the negligence of the bus driver may be eligible for a wrongful death lawsuit. The parents of the deceased child ought to get in contact with a wrongful death law firm and decide what to do next. To win a wrongful death lawsuit in South Africa, it’s paramount to prove negligence and loss of financial support to the surviving loved ones. Without these two elements, a case can’t be successful. Also, relatives must show that they are indigent. The case will be won based on the significance of the evidence.
Schools are struggling to find public transport
Educational institutions have reopened in South Africa, but learners are still struggling to get to the destination. Public transport is either hard to find or people are too afraid to use it. The minibus taxi route (B97) is the subject of conflict between the CATA and CODETA taxi associations, which are fighting over the right to operate on it. Many pupils have missed school classes due to taxi violence. Schools, which have a higher enrollment of learners from the outskirts, report lower attendance numbers.
No bus is assigned to educational institutions, so pupils are transported with one vehicle to the different schools. It’s up to parents to do the necessary due diligence when arranging transportation for their kids. More exactly, they have to examine the contracts before they are signed and ask for emergency numbers. Many kids in education take the bus, but it doesn’t always turn out to be the best option. A number of school-age children die every year on transportation vehicles.
