Pongola – A closed meeting between the uPhongolo Municipality and the families of victims from the 2022 school transport tragedy is expected to take place next week, following widespread rumours that local trucking companies paid – or are still paying – money to the municipality to support the affected families.
While the municipality has not officially confirmed that alleged payouts will be on the agenda, sources close to the matter say the meeting is expected to address these claims. The rumours, which have been circulating widely in the Pongola community via WhatsApp and other platforms, allege that transport companies deposited funds into the municipality’s account for distribution to the victims’ families.
A source told SA Trucker that the municipality maintains no such payments were ever made or received and wants to “clear the air” once and for all.
“The municipality says there is no money that has been paid over, and no money that is still being paid. They want the transporters to clarify whether any payments were made or are being made,” the source said.
Community frustration over the alleged payouts has been cited as a key reason for recurring road blockages and sporadic protests, with some residents believing that funds meant for victims’ families were withheld.
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The meeting will not be open to the public and will include only municipal officials, the affected families, and representatives from the transport companies.
The 2022 Pongola tragedy – which claimed the lives of 20 children when a truck collided with a bakkie transporting learners – remains one of the country’s most heartbreaking road disasters. Nearly two years later, emotions are still raw, and this meeting could prove crucial in rebuilding trust between the community, local government, and the trucking industry.
At the time of publication, neither the municipality nor any transport company had confirmed whether financial contributions had ever been made or discussed. This article reports on claims circulating in the community and statements from sources close to the matter.
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