Early on Wednesday, twelve children died on their way to school in a bus crash in the province of Gauteng, near Johannesburg in South Africa. The minibus they were in overturned and caught fire after being hit by another vehicle, according to the government.
The driver who was driving the children also died in the fatal accident, and seven children were rushed to hospital for care.
"I am deeply saddened by this tragic event. The loss of our children is a devastating blow to our society, and our thoughts and prayers go to the families of the deceased and injured students", says Matome Chiloane, education minister in the province of Gauteng.
The exact ages of the children have not been disclosed, but they are believed to have been between six and 13 years old.
