'Their screams are still lingering in my mind' - witness to Hoërskool Driehoek tragedy
An employee at Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark, said she was tormented by the images of the falling concrete slab, which led to the death of three pupils on Friday morning.
The employee, who could not be identified, said she witnessed the tragedy soon after 08:00 when pupils left the assembly hall to return to class.
She added that injured pupils were lying near the pathway, while the bodies of the three deceased were trapped underneath the concrete slab.
The concrete slab was above a walkway which linked two buildings at the 45-year-old school.
Screams for help
"I was walking from the kitchen towards the bridge when I saw it collapsing. I heard a loud bang and I thought it was a ceiling board falling over my children. When I went closer, I noticed that it was not a ceiling board but it was a concrete slab. I quickly turned back and screamed for help," she said.
The employee said she could hear trapped pupils screaming for help underneath the rubble.
"Their screams are still lingering in my mind. They cried, pleading for help. Oh! My children were fighting for their lives. There was nothing I could do. But I am glad and appreciate those men who responded quickly and saved the lives of some of the children. I am hurting inside and don't know what to say anymore," she said.
Two male pupils and a female died on the scene. They were aged between 13 and 18.
"I quickly ran back and screamed for help. I can see the slab falling over them. I was afraid to go and remove the trapped learners, thinking it will fall over [them]. I can't stop crying. I heard that one of them has lost two limbs. I can't eat and have lost [my] appetite. I am praying for God to be with the injured children in hospital. I wish them a speedy recovery," the worker said.
A sad day
Following the tragedy, Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi shut down the school with immediate effect to allow police to conduct investigations.
The MEC rushed to the school after receiving a call at 08:10 about the collapse.
"It is a sad day and we didn't plan nor anticipate to have this kind of a disaster. We thank everyone who swiftly responded and assisted to rescue our learners. Unfortunately, the learners were walking under [the concrete slab] when it fell over them immediately after assembly. During the mayhem, everyone assisted the trapped learners," he said
Lesufi thanked municipalities who played a role in assisting the injured learners.
Twenty-three learners were injured in the accident - five of them seriously. They were all taken to hospital for treatment.
"Two of the deceased learners were males and one was a girl. So far, one child has been identified. We are locating families of the two deceased learners to notify them about the tragedy. Two of 23 affected learners were handed over to their parents. The rest were rushed to hospital.
"It is heartbreaking to see learners and the entire school going through this exercise. We have to pick up our pieces as the department. The department has issued an instruction that no learner should not be attended to in hospital because of a lack of medical aid or funds. The school will remain closed with immediate effect," Lesufi said.
Condolences
He added that seeing the condition of the three deceased learners under the rubble broke his heart. Lesufi extended his condolences to the children's families on behalf of the department and the entire government.
Roads around the school have been closed and Lesufi requested co-operation from people in the area.
"For now, learners are not in a state to go back to classes. We will open an emergency centre in school where counselling will be offered," he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said an inquest docket has been opened.
'My son is now in heaven', distraught father tells Hoërskool Driehoek mourners
A distraught father, who lost his child after a structure collapsed on top of 26 pupils and claimed three lives at Hoerskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark, says his son is with God in heaven.
Donovan Olckers told News24 that he was at work when he received a frantic call that a bridge had collapsed on top of the children at the school. He quickly rushed to the school and, upon arrival, another pupil told him that his son Roydon, 17, was among those trapped under the rubble.
Olckers has another son in Grade 8 at the same school.
"My younger son was distraught and crying that I should go and help his elder brother who was trapped under the rubble.
"I went to the rubble and was told that Roydon was still breathing and had a pulse. Later, a police officer came to me and broke the sad news that Roydon has passed," he said.
The grieving father described Roydon as an energetic person who loved sport and dancing. The matriculant was on his way to his classroom with other pupils when the tragedy struck.
Olckers arrived with several other parents and residents on Friday evening to lay wreaths outside the school's gates. He bravely addressed the mourning crowd, telling them that his son was now in God's hands.
"I appreciate the support I have received. I am not breaking down in tears and I know that this didn't happen without a reason. There is life after this," he said.
'Only God knows why this happened'
Pastor Wynand Hanekom addressed the mourners, urging them to trust and rely on God. Hanekom comforted the parents in prayer, saying God conquered everything.
"We know where our strength comes from. We pray and wish those in hospitals a speedy recovery. God is with us. He is there for everyone and today. We are standing here seeking his strength," concluded Hanekom.
The Emfuleni municipality's Maipato Tsokolibane said she was humbled by the support offered to the school. She said the incident had affected the entire community and the country at large.
"I am hurt as a parent. We are one united family. I know the pain of losing a child. Only God knows why this has happened. This should not happen again in our schools," she said.
