Dennegeur Primary School of Mitchell’s Plain has asked the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to manage the special fund set up to assist families of victims of the recent tragic bus accident involving children from the school.

Three learners and a bus driver died when the bus in which they were travelling crashed in Kloofnek Road, Cape Town, following an excursion to Table Mountain. About 60 learners were injured.

The WCED initiated the special fund shortly after the accident in consultation with the school and Standard Bank. The bank opened the account in the name of the school.

Governing body members are concerned that the issue of how the funds are managed could be divisive, and therefore asked the WCED to ensure that the funds are managed independently of the school, and as fairly as possible.

Parents of children involved in the accident elected a committee on Saturday morning (10 September 2005) to liaise with the department on criteria for how the fund should be managed and distributed.

About 70 parents met management of the school and the WCED on Saturday morning to discuss counseling requirements, legal issues and management of the special fund.

Ms Berenice Daniels, an educational psychologist based at the WCED’s Metropole South Education Management and Development Centre (EMDC), said that the WCED would continue providing counseling support for those traumatised by the accident.

At the time of the accident, 25 school psychologists from various EMDCs were among those who provided counseling support immediately after the accident and in the days that followed.

A trauma team coordinator visited the school again today (Monday, 12 September 2005) to evaluate needs. The team will meet school staff tomorrow (Tuesday) and with parents on Wednesday to determine their support needs.

The WCED will also seek further support from contractors who provide counseling support for the department’s Employee Wellness Programme.

A panel of legal practitioners advised parents on the legal steps they could take following the accident, including applications to the Road Accident Fund and litigation.

The following are the banking details of the special fund:

        Dennegeur Avenue Primary Disaster Fund

        Standard bank Promenade Branch

        Branch code: 026609

        Account number: 657621544.