Ramaphosa mourns victims of Cape Flats violence and scholar transport tragedy

Mapaballo Borotho

President Cyril Ramaphosa has mourned the deaths of 13 schoolchildren in a scholar transport crash and at least 26 people killed in violence on the Cape Flats.
He has offered condolences to affected families and pledged stronger law enforcement in violence-hit communities.
Police have opened a culpable homicide case into the crash, while gang-related arrests continue in the Western Cape.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives following a deadly scholar transport collision in the Vaal and a spate of violent incidents on the Cape Flats.

At least 26 people have been killed in violent attacks on the Cape Flats since Friday, while a scholar transport crash claimed the lives of 13 schoolchildren, leaving families and communities devastated.

The president extended his condolences to all those affected by the tragedies.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa has assured Western Cape communities of increased police visibility and strengthened law enforcement efforts to stabilise affected areas and prevent further violence.

Police in the Western Cape have arrested at least 100 gang leaders and 106 runners over the past three months as part of ongoing operations to curb gang-related crime.

Ramaphosa said it was particularly distressing that the scholar transport crash occurred on the same day the South African Human Rights Commission released a report on scholar transport in the North West.

“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets, and we must do all we can — from obeying the rules of the road to ensuring the quality of scholar transport service providers — to protect learners,” the president said.

Gauteng police have since opened a case of culpable homicide following the crash, which has shocked the nation.