President Ramaphosa saddened by the deaths of 19 learners and 2 adults in a bakkie-truck crash at Pongola in northern KZN

On Friday, a collision between a bakkie and a truck in Pongola, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, resulted in the deaths of 19 learners and two adults. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his great sorrow over this tragedy.

The students were being transferred in a bakkie when it collided with a truck.

The President offered his condolences to all the families whose loved ones were killed in the event and wished the survivors a swift and complete recovery.

“This is yet another sad moment for our country, following the substantial loss of young lives in an Eastern Cape tavern recently.

“We cannot afford to lose such precious lives under any conditions. I hope the investigation into the Pongola incident will shed light on the cause of this tragedy and help us take better care of our children into the future.”

Meanwhile, the truck driver who caused the collision that claimed the lives of twenty-one individuals has been arrested.

According to a statement released by the Transport Department in KwaZulu-Natal, the driver turned himself in to the police on Saturday in response to a call from Sipho Hlomuka, the MEC for Transport, Community Safety, and Liaison.

After fleeing the scene of the collision, police initiated a search for him.

Today, the driver is expected to appear before the Phongolo Magistrate Court.

“His arrest is important in assisting the families to deal with the devastation of losing their relatives. We commend the police who have had to activate all systems to make sure that the driver is pressured to surrender himself. We will be there to support the people of Phongolo and the families during his court appearance on Monday,” Hlomuka said in a statement.