*Article has been updated
Durban – Four school children – three boys and one girl – were killed and many more were injured in a collision between a bus and a minibus taxi in Durban on Wednesday morning – the first day of school his year.
Details of the crash were sketchy, but Robert McKenzie, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Emergency Medical Service, said the accident took place near the bus station in the city's Ntuzuma township.
Initial reports said that six people were killed.
Picture: Motshwari Mofokeng
“Paramedics from the Department of Health’s emergency medical services and multiple private ambulance services worked together to treat a total 18 people who were injured in the crash.”
The other patients who received treatment were taken to several hospitals in the area for continued medical care.
One of the patients, who sustained critical injuries, was airlifted to hospital by the KZN EMS emergency helicopter.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial education spokesman Sihle Mlotshwa said that he could confirm that it was four pupils who had died in the crash.
"This is a very sad day. It is meant to be a happy. I myself took my daughter to school and posted pictures of her. I can only begin to imagine what those parents are feeling. On behalf of the MEC I wish to express sincere condolences," said Mlotshwa.
He said that he had no further details, but that education department officials were on their way to the scene to find out what had happened.