Four high school pupils were killed when a speeding car smashed into them in Soweto on Monday, Johannesburg emergency services said.
The four boys, aged between 17 and 19, were walking home from school with two other friends in Mdlalose Street, Protea North, at about 4pm when the accident happened, spokesperson Percy Morokane said.
Inspector Edna Mamonyane, Johannesburg metro police spokesperson, said two Mini Coopers were racing down the road, which runs between Protea Glen and Protea North.
“It is a two-way street and one of the cars went into the other lane, driving in the lane of oncoming traffic, parallel to one another.”
When a car came from the other direction, the driver tried to swerve back into the right lane and crashed into the Mini he was allegedly racing.
“They both drove on to the pavement and mowed down the four young boys who were still in school uniform,” Mamonyane said.
Morokane said four of the boys were killed. The other two were in critical conditions with multiple fractures and head injuries.
Local ward councillor and Inkatha Freedom Party Soweto leader, Dlangezwa Mvelase, said that the community was “very angry” over the death of the teenagers.
“The law must deal accordingly with people who play silly games on the roads, killing innocent children,” said Mvelase.
Three of the boys killed were from Jules High School in the Johannesburg CBD and one from Altmont High School in Protea North.
Soweto police spokesperson Inspector Kay Makhubela said the two drivers were arrested following the accident and were expected to appear in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The two drivers will be facing charges of culpable homicide and negligent and reckless driving. – Sapa