*Press Statement* * * August 25, 2011 *YCL offers its condolences to the families of the Knysna bus accident* * * The Young communist League of South Africa (Ufasimba) offers its most sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the bus that plunged into a bridge yesterday morning killing 14 students and the driver in Rheenendal near Knysna.
We are deeply shattered by the accident and the manner in which these students lost their lives. We feel that such accidents can be avoided if bus companies ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy and their drivers are fit to transport commuters. Rumours of an over load (bus capacity is 32 and is rumoured to have been carrying 59 learners) and failed brakes must be investigated with immediate effect by the relevant authorities. We therefore call on the Department of Education to ensure that they do background checks on companies that they contract to ferry learners to and from school. Traffic authorities should also enforce stringent laws to bus drivers and their companies with vehicles that are not roadworthy to ensure commuters safety. In line with the Red October Campaign on safe and affordable public transport as led by the South African Communist Party; we pledge to commit ourselves in ensuring that learners and our communities at large do not fall victims to conspicuous negligence by bus companies who priorities profit at the expense of the lives of innocent people. As the YCL we would like to offer our deepest condolences to the learner’s families, more especially the family which they lost three learners in this horrific accident. We also wish those that are still in hospital a speedy recovery. Issued YCLSA Head Office. For more information contact YCL Spokesperson Mafika Mndebele Cell: 073 574 5953 Landline: 011 339 3621 * * -- Venceremos -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
