Johannesburg – Children as young as seven and eight were among 11 pupils killed when a minibus burst into flames after being struck by another vehicle outside Johannesburg Wednesday, South African authorities said.
Details and photos of some of the primary school children caught in the burning minibus were released Thursday as government officials visited shocked and mourning families in the Fochville area around 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Johannesburg.
Authorities revised down the number of children killed in the fiery crash from 12, which also claimed the life of the driver.
One family lost four children, the provincial education department said.
Brothers Reneilwe, seven, and Hlompho, 11, Hlalele were cousins of sisters Thato, eight, and Sihle, 12, Hlalele, it said.
“We as a family really hope the investigations will be fast so that we can get closure… because the mothers of the kids are also young themselves,” their uncle, Aviva Manqa, said in a video shared by the government.
Police said it appeared the minibus was struck from behind by a small pick-up truck, causing it to overturn and catch fire.
Those caught in the bus were burnt beyond recognition, an officer told AFP Wednesday.
“The loss of such young lives at the start of a new school term touches all of us as a nation,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said Wednesday.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Source: AFP
Picture: Facebook/South-African-Police-Service
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
