Education Minister visits schools following horror crash

Eighteen learners and two adults were killed when the midi-bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a truck near Bronkhorstspruit.

The learners were heading back home to Mpumalanga after attending school in Gauteng.

"This is a national disaster," said Motshekga.

The Mahlenga Secondary School lost four learners and the Rafeno Primary School lost 14 learners in the crash. 

"We are here to support you guys. There is not much we can say at this stage. I think all of you are still shocked by what happened. We will work with you, as Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has already started," said Motshekga.

Lesufi said the process of identifying victims should be concluded within a week. 

"What pains us most is that of the 20 people that died on the scene, only one person could be identified," said Lesufi.

Another seven children were injured, with one discharged from hospital.

Lesufi said funeral arrangements are underway

"One of the immediate tasks that we have committed ourselves to do immediately is to establish a joint-funeral committee. The funeral committee is established on the basis of the two provincial governments; the government of Mpumalanga and the government of Gauteng," said Lesufi.