8 Learners seriously injured

Rustenburg – Several parents’ worst fear came true on Tuesday 24 May, when they were notified that their kids were involved in an accident. 

Laerskool Dawid Brink’s rugby teams travelled to Hartbeespoort to participate in a friendly match at Laerskool Generaal Hendrik Schoeman. They were on their way back, traveling along the N4 when the left rear tyre of their bus carrying 50 children aged 10 to 13, burst.

The accident occurred around 8pm close to Kroondal. The driver made every attempt to avoid oncoming traffic and to keep control of the bus, but it capsized, spun around and came to a standstill on its side, facing the opposite direction. 

The reports from Vaal Maseru, the company who owns the bus, indicated that the bus was not speeding and was traveling at 85km per hour in a 120km zone when the accident occurred. The lower speed definitely limited the severity of the accident.

Emergency services swiftly arrived on scene. The learners and educators who sustained serious injuries were taken to Life Peglerae and Medicare Hospital in Rustenburg. Other learners with minor injuries were treated and released at the accident scene. Fortunately, there were no fatalities.

The school is offering counselling for the learners, teachers and parents affected by the accident.
Eight learners and an educator sustained serious injuries and at time of going to print were still in hospital.

In a statement by Laerskool Dawid Brink, the school expressed their gratitude to the community for their support and assistance at the scene.

They also received various offers from the community to contribute to the expenses incurred by the school as a result of the accident as well as the medical expenses of the learners who is not covered by a medical aid. A trust account was created for these contributions.

The North West Department of Education, member of executive council Mmaphefo Matsemela wished the educators and learners a speedy recovery: “On behalf of the department, we would like to wish those who sustained serious injuries a speedy recovery. It is an unfortunate and regrettable incident our learners and teachers had to experience. We truly wish them a full recovery.”

All donations can be paid into the trust account of Van Velden Duffey Inc. 
Standard Bank Trust Account 
Van Velden-Duffey
Account number:  033131996
Branch code:  052646
Reference:  MAT122921

“Our prayers and thoughts go out to all the learners, educators and parents involved in this traumatic accident. An incident like this is every principal’s biggest fear. We are extremely grateful to the Lord for keeping our children and educators safe.

One of our teachers and eight of our learners are still in hospital – please continue to pray for them. Our thoughts are with the learner who had some of his fingers amputated as well as the family that still awaits feedback about a possible amputation.

I would like to thank the community for their support during this difficult time. I am in awe of the many messages of encouragement and support that we have received!”

#FosteringASenseOfCommunity