By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
18 November 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape said it has noted with grave concern an accident, where school learners were injured. The DA said a minibus taxi carrying 15 learners from New Orleans Secondary School overturned on Sonstraal Road, near Nederburg Wine Estate on Monday.
DA’s Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Prof Nomafrench Mbombo said they commend the Drakenstein Municipality and its Public Safety Department for their swift response, showing what good, caring and responsive governance looks like. Mbombo said they also call on all transport operators to exercise extreme caution, especially when transporting minors.
“Sadly, two learners sustained serious injuries, while six sustained minor injuries. The driver and the remaining six learners, who appeared uninjured, were all transported to hospital by the Western Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and private ambulance services as a precaution.
“The DA in the Western Cape will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for safer roads for all residents, especially our children. We urge the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of this incident and to help prevent similar tragedies in the future,” she said.
Meanwhile, Western Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Peter Johnson said their hearts are with the learners, their families and the staff of New Orleans Secondary School affected by this traumatic event. Johnson said the well-being of these children is their foremost concern and they wish a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured.
“This incident is a stark reminder of the immense responsibility borne by those tasked with transporting our children. We commend the swift and coordinated response from all emergency services. While we are thankful that the situation was not worse, this accident underscores the non-negotiable need for constant vigilance and the highest safety standards from every operator on our roads. There is no margin for error when children’s lives are in your hands,” she said.
The Guardian 