NATIONAL NEWS - A grade 11 pupil, Tshepo Tsotetsi (18), from Debonair Park in Vereeniging was killed yesterday after a school bus transporting Meyerton Secondary School learner, drove over him while learners claimed they yelled for the bus driver to stop.
According to eyewitnesses, Tsotetsi, who is one of a twin, was clamped by a closing bus door as the bus drove off and dragged for a about metre before he fell and landed under the bus where the wheels ran over him.
The Tsotetsi family is still reeling in shock following the incident and demand justice for what happened.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Annah Tsotetsi (53) says she last saw her son when he left for school with his twin brother yesterday morning. Moments later, she received a call directing her to the scene where her son’s lifeless body laid, covered with a blanket.
The distraught mother shared shocking details of how she found her son.
“My sons (Tshepo and his twin brother Tshepang) told me they were leaving for school. A couple of minutes later, I received a call to go to a scene. When I got there my son was lying on the ground, motionless, wrapped in a blanket,” she says.
The emotional mother says she was told how her son was killed and blames the incident on the overcrowding of buses.
“The buses are always full. Some days the kids come back home because of space constraints on the bus. Some days they will tell me how the bus driver drove off without waiting for them as they prepared to fill the bus,” she adds.
An devastated Tsotetsi says she wants answers as to why the driver didn’t stop when he allegedly was told to.
An eyewitness who did not want to to be named fearing victimisation, alleges pupils in the bus tried to stop the driver but that he kept on driving despite frantic screams for him to halt the bus.
“We all screamed when the bus started closing the doors and dragged my friend [Tsotetsi ], but he continued to drive. Only when a taxi drove in front of the bus did he stop.
“The accident had already happened and Tshepo was already dead. The bus driver pretended to get out to look at the damage he had caused, but ran for his life,” he says.
Another pupil, who was also a friend of Tsotetsi, says he hopes the driver will be arrested and pay for his crime.
“Killing a person is a crime, I hope he gets arrested and pays for his sins.”
Police spokesman Sergeant Shaan Motsapi says a culpable homicide case is being investigated.
The Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona says the department is aware of the incident.
“We wish to convey our condolences to the family and the school community at large. We must also clarify that according to information at our disposal the driver did not run away as purported,” he says.
Asked if the department is aware of overcrowded buses and parents’ grievances on the matter, Mabona says the department will investigate.
“We will investigate that allegation and attend to it accordingly. The demand for scholar transport sometimes surpasses capacity, however we try to accommodate everyone,” he says.
Mabona says the department will dispatch a team to provide the necessary psychological support to everyone involved.
