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Feedback 0 / 5</s>At Least 3 Students Killed After School Walkway Collapses In South Africa

At least three students were killed and some two dozen were injured Friday when a walkway collapsed at a high school in South Africa , according to officials.

The Hoerskool Driehoek is in Vanderbijlpark, about 45 miles south of Johannesburg in Gauteng province.

Panyaza Lesufi, the top Gauteng education official, told eNCA TV news that two boys and a girl died and 23 other students were injured. Lesufi said the government has identified one of the three victims, but no names have been publicly released.

"It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state," Lesufi said, adding that the school would be closed following the incident.

A pastor held services Friday at the site of the collapse.

Driehoek was inundated with mourners who hugged one another, lit candles and piled bouquets of flowers between the metal slats of the school gates.

The cause of the collapse at Driehoek wasn't clear. The state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that police are investigating. The fallen walkway has been wrapped in yellow crime tape.

The broadcaster showed a slab of a white elevated walkway that had fallen just a few feet off the ground and was supported by bricks and red equipment. There was heavy rain the day before, SABC reported, but it was unclear whether that had weakened the structure.

Buang Jones, a representative from the South African Human Rights Commission, visited the school and said the incident raised questions about potential human rights violations. He said he is asking the Department of Education to conduct an investigation of all education facilities in the province.

"They have a constitutional obligation to protect children's rights and to ensure that education is accessible and the learning environment is conducive to all learners," Jones told SABC.

Schools in South Africa are plagued with inadequate facilities. NPR reported on a 5-year-old student who died in 2014 after he fell into his school's pit toilet and drowned.

During a recent drought, school administrators turned off taps at schools around Cape Town, and instead told students to bring their own drinking water.</s>JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least three students are dead and 23 injured after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, South African officials said Friday.</s>JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African official says at least three students are dead after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, tweeted that “scores” are still trapped in the rubble on Friday morning at Hoerskool Driehoek school in Vanderbijlpark.

It is not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Emergency services provider Netcare911 says at least four people may have died and at least five people are critically injured.</s>JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least three students are dead and 23 injured after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, South African officials said Friday.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at the Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark. Two boys and a girl were killed, he said.

"It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state," Lesufi said. He reported "scores" trapped but an Associated Press witness later said no one remained in the rubble.

"When we arrived we found that there are still children underneath," said Kay Makhubela, spokesman for Gauteng police. He said about nine people were seriously injured.

The students at the school are between 13 and 18 years old, local broadcaster eNCA reported.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Police said engineering reports would form part of the investigation.

Local media posted photos of a large slab and scattered bricks with the scene blocked off by emergency tape.

The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed. Young boys from a neighboring school came by to lay flowers.

"My heart goes out for the school because a lot of my friends were (there)," said one of the boys, Herco Lintvelt. "I hope they can build the school up again. And I hope everyone who is here must be fine."

A statement by AfriForum, a civil society group that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders.</s>JOHANNESBURG — At least three students are dead and "scores" are trapped in the rubble after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, a South African official said Friday.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at the Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Emergency services provider Netcare911 said at least four people may have died and at least five people were critically injured.

The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed.

A statement by AfriForum, a civil society organization that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders.</s>JOHANNESBURG -- At least three students are dead and "scores" are trapped in the rubble after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, a South African official said Friday.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at the Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark. Two boys and a girl were killed, Lesufi said.

"It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state," he said. The school has been closed.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse. Local media posted photos of a large slab and scattered bricks with the scene blocked off by emergency tape.

Emergency services provider Netcare911 said at least four people may have died and at least five people were critically injured.

The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed.

A statement by AfriForum, a civil society organization that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders.</s>The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At least three students are dead and “scores” are trapped in the rubble after a walkway collapsed at a school outside Johannesburg, a South African official said Friday.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, posted the toll on Twitter shortly after the collapse at the Hoerskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Emergency services provider Netcare911 said at least four people may have died and at least five people were critically injured.

The national Department of Education extended condolences to the families of the students killed.

A statement by AfriForum, a civil society organization that represents the rights of Afrikaners, sent out a notice urging people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.</s>NAN Three children were killed after a walkway collapsed at their school in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg,...</s>At least three students have died and scores are trapped in rubble after a walkway collapsed at a school near Johannesburg, South African officials have said.

Panyaza Lesufi, the head of education for Gauteng province, gave details of the incident on Twitter shortly after the collapse at Hoërskool Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark.

It was not immediately clear what caused the collapse.

Netcare911, an emergency services provider, said at least four people may have died and at least five were critically injured.

South Africa’s department of education extended condolences to the families of the students killed.

AfriForum, a civil society organisation that represents Afrikaners, urged people to avoid the area so as not to interfere with the work of emergency responders.
Three students at a school in Johannesburg, South Africa, are killed after a footbridge connecting the main school administration to various class rooms collapses.