A minibus taxi transporting school pupils veered off a bridge in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning. Image: KZN transport department.
(The Post News)– A manhunt has been launched for a minibus taxi driver who fled the scene of a crash that left 20 pupils injured on Monday morning. The accident, which occurred on the P127 at the KwaKhetha Bridge in Impendle, is the third involving scholar transport vehicles in the uMgungundlovu district within a span of four days.
At approximately 7:30 a.m., the minibus taxi veered off the road and plunged several meters down from the bridge, injuring a group of 20 learners from Matomela High School, Luthando High School, and Sthunjwana Primary School. The pupils were rushed to Gomane Clinic and Harry Gwala Regional Hospital (also known as Edendale Hospital) for treatment.
The incident was reported to KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma by Thami Mkhulisa, the Director of Community Service for the Impendle municipality. Duma expressed his distress, stating, “The most disturbing part is the taxi driver disappeared, and law enforcement agencies are looking for him.”
Improved Roadworthiness and Driver Vetting
The recent spate of accidents has prompted MEC Duma to call for improved focus on roadworthiness and driver vetting. The Transport MEC has announced a new partnership with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), a member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) that represents private vehicle testing stations. The goal of this collaboration is to strengthen oversight and ensure compliance within the taxi sector.
“We have agreed to work together to isolate elements operating vehicles without roadworthy certificates and to ensure those issuing fraudulent certificates are arrested,” Duma stated. The partnership, which is part of the preparations for Transport Month in October, will focus on strengthening legislation on taxi and scholar transport, vetting drivers to ensure their fitness, enforcing stricter compliance measures, and conducting independent audits of the sector.
A key change will be the requirement for biannual roadworthy certificates for all heavy passenger vehicles, a move to replace the current annual requirement. Additionally, all minibuses will be required to be inspected at accredited testing centers within KwaZulu-Natal, in line with their specific route permits.
This latest crash follows a fatal incident last week in Imbali, where four pupils died after a taxi driver lost control and crashed into a crèche. Another accident in the Umgungundlovu District on Thursday claimed the lives of three learners and left others hospitalized.
According to the Automobile Association, minibus taxis are involved in an estimated 70,000 crashes annually, experiencing double the crash rate of other passenger vehicles. The recent accidents underscore the urgent need for a more robust and regulated scholar transport system in the province.
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