On Wednesday, a tragic accident in South Africa claimed the lives of five children when a train collided with a school bus. The collision, which occurred in the afternoon near Mafube village, close to Middelburg—about 180 kilometers northeast of Johannesburg—also injured 20 others, according to the transport ministry.
The government confirmed the devastating incident at a level crossing, expressing profound sadness over the loss. Deputy Transport Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa emphasized the heartbreak of witnessing such a tragedy and reaffirmed the importance of child safety.
Emergency services were still on the scene in the evening, and police could not be immediately reached for further comment.
Earlier in July, a similar tragedy occurred when a minibus carrying 12 children to school overturned and caught fire after being struck by another vehicle near Johannesburg. President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences, highlighting the urgent need to improve child protection and road safety.
Despite having one of the most developed road networks in Africa, South Africa struggles with a high rate of road accidents, often due to reckless driving and poorly maintained vehicles.
