Durban - Eight Durban Girls’ High School pupils are still in hospital, three in a serious condition, after they were injured in a bus crash.
School principal, Erica Hayes-Hill, on Monday confirmed that most of the more than 50 girls, injured when the bus they were travelling in on Friday overturned on the N2 near eManzimtoti, had been discharged.
She said the girls had been returning from playing soccer against Port Shepstone High School when the incident occurred at about 5.55pm.
Four teachers and four coaches were also injured, with one of the teachers suffering a serious hand injury. The teacher was on Monday in intensive care.
Hayes-Hill, who has been in constant contact with the parents of the injured children, said the support the school had received from the public had been “absolutely incredible”.
The public had offered help, with school principals from other schools, psychologists and counsellors all volunteering their services.
She said the girls were still at home recovering - “their bodies are sore” - but counsellors were on standby.
On what had caused the crash, she said they were still waiting for a report from the bus company.
Education Department spokesman, Muzi Mahlambi, said they would investigate the matter with the Department of Transport. “From what we gathered, it was a pure accident,” said Mahlambi.
Sandra Roopram, of Riccalin Travel and Tours, owners of the bus, said the matter was still being investigated. Roopram said the bus had been in a roadworthy condition.
She said they had been subcontracted by another company to transport the pupils.
“In the almost 30 years the company has been operating they have never had a major incident. The bus driver had sustained major injuries and was shaken emotionally,” said Roopram.
The 57-year-old driver was tested for alcohol and no traces were found, she said.
The accident was one of three bus crashes that happened on Friday and Saturday.
On Friday, ER24 reported a bus crash on the R603 near Umbumbulu.
About 50 children were injured when the bus rolled down an embankment.
The children, who were from Umgungundlovu District Team, had been on their way to the provincial Indigenous Games in Margate when the incident happened.
Emergency workers found the bus lying on its roof. There were no deaths or serious injuries.
Transport spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane, said they would look into the incident and said the MEC, Mxolisi Kaunda, was worried as the R603 was “problematic” because of the high number of accidents on it.
MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Bongi Sithole-Moloi, offered messages of support to the families of the injured. She said: “I have also requested the HOD to ensure those affected are assisted with all the necessary claims and to look into all the needs of the Umgungundlovu team and their families.”
On Saturday, three people died and more than 60 were injured in a collision near Underberg between a bus, a car and a bakkie.
Daily News