he Gauteng Education Department has conveyed condolences to the family of a learner who died on Tuesday, in an accident, in Johannesburg.

Nineteen learners were also injured. The department has wished them a speedy recovery. It said the deceased and injured learners were from Gresswold Senior School in Highlands North in Johannesburg.

The department would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased learner and the entire school community, said the department.

According to the department, preliminary investigations into the cause of the accident suggests that a vehicle crossed a robot, hit another car and crashed into the learners who were waiting for their transport at school to go home.

From the report, which we have received, approximately 19 of the learners involved in the incident were rushed to various hospitals around the area. One learner is reported to be in a critical condition.

The department will continue to monitor the condition of the learners, said the department.

The department extended gratitude to the Gauteng Department of Health and health personnel for helping the learners promptly.

We will work closely with the City of Joburg to improve safety on that part of the road, said the department.

The department said it has dispatched a team of counsellors to the school, who are working together with personnel from the Gauteng Department of Health in providing counselling to the learners, educators and families of learners involved in the incident.

SOURCE: SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY