Memorial service for bus crash victims

05 October 2011 - 02:35 By Retha Grobbelaar
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A woman waits anxiously at the Phumula Gardens Primary School in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, yesterday for news of pupils and teachers involved in a crash on the way to Durban. The school principal and members of the school governing body were also on the bus Picture: DANIEL BORN
A woman waits anxiously at the Phumula Gardens Primary School in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, yesterday for news of pupils and teachers involved in a crash on the way to Durban. The school principal and members of the school governing body were also on the bus Picture: DANIEL BORN

A Memorial service for the four teachers and five pupils who died in the horror bus crash outside Harrismith on Monday will be held tomorrow at the Leondale Community Hall on the East Rand.

The Gauteng Department of Education said yesterday that crash survivors were being transferred to hospitals closer to home.

The teachers who died included Phumula Gardens Primary deputy principal Moliehi Ramphisa, Nomathamsanqa Mkhawana, Pitso Meko and Mapoloko Motaung. Three of the pupils have been named - Mbali Mpofu, 13, Sinalo Zulu, 13, and Nomonde Mponde, 12. - Staff reporter

Department under fire in high court

A FORMER Model C school and its governing body involved in a legal battle over the admission of a Grade 1 pupil, yesterday argued that the Gauteng education department should focus on building new schools rather than "interfering in schools that are working".

Advocate Andrew Kemack, SC, for the school, said in the Johannesburg High Court that schools were not "like taxis, but like ships".

"You can only put so many people on a ship. If it's overloaded, it will sink . At some point the government has to provide new ships."

The governing body took the department to court, saying it unlawfully intervened by forcing the school, which may not be named following an order by the court, to admit the child although classes were full and the child was 140th on the waiting list. Judgment was reserved.

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