12 pupils die in South Africa’s auto crash

At least 12 primary school children died in an auto crash in South Africa on Wednesday.

Road transport officials in the country told journalists the minibus taking the children to school overturned and caught fire after a collision on the N14 motorway near Merafong, about 70 kilometres west of Johannesburg.

The driver of the minibus was also found dead.

South African authorities said the victims were burnt beyond recognition while seven children were injured in the accident.

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However, the officials were initially unable to provide any information on the ages of the children.

Police officers had been deployed to the scene to investigate the circumstances behind the accident.

Gauteng Province Minister of Education, Matome Chiloane, expressed sadness over the incident.

“The loss of our children is a devastating blow to our community,” the minister stated.

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