VUSI Shongwe has appealed to parents to ensure their children are transported in roadworthy vehicles.
The Mpumalanga community safety MEC was addressing mourners at the funeral service of three of the nine pupils who died in an accident on Wednesday, 16 February.
The pupils were going home when the taxi they were travelling in overturned, killing nine and injuring 10.
Shongwe said parents were at the forefront of ensuring that public transport vehicles were safe.
“Don’t allow wrong things to happen. Let’s not wait until such situations happen,” he said, adding that broken laws led to the accident.
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“The driver was not in possession of a driving licence and the car was not supposed to be on the road,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the families, Ndoda Nhlabathi said they were still coming to terms with the tragedy but had left everything to God.
“It’s painful to lose kids in such a way.
“If we knew the car was not supposed to be on the road, we would not have used the service. We are hurting.”
The driver has been arrested, and is expected to appear in court on 3 March.
