A private bus transporting 20 learners exploded and was engulfed in flames in Mmabatho near Mahikeng, the North West department of education said on Monday.
The bus was transporting Letsatsing Secondary School learners who were returning from a winter camp when the explosion hit on Saturday. No injuries were reported were reported in the incident.
Counselling has been arranged for some of the leaners from Letsatsing Secondary School, who were there when the bus was engulfed in flames.
Mmaphefo Matsemela, the North West Education MEC was relieved that none of the people who were in the bus were injured.
“On behalf of the North West department of education I am truly grateful that there were no injuries reported. The purpose of this winter camp is to primarily improve the performance of our learners,” she said.
“We wish to call upon all our bus operators to be extremely vigilant whenever they are transporting learners. They should ensure that their buses are roadworthy, and they comply to the rules of the road.”
In a separate incident, five family members who confirmed dead after a fire ravaged their home in Marikana Geluksoord in the North West on the early hours of Sunday morning, 17 July 2022.
According to the police, it is alleged that a man went out of his house at 03:30 and noticed that smoke was coming out of his neighbours house.
The neighbour rushed to try and help but found that all the doors were locked and the windows were closed. He ran back to his house to collect an iron rod. While he shouted to alert other community members about the incident, he went back to the house where he broke and opened all the windows and the doors.