By: Samkelisiwe Majola

A five-year-old girl was seriously injured after she was run-over by a taxi at Inanda Mission on Friday.

According to an eye witness, Siphamandla Mfeka, the girl was travelling to school when the driver lost control of the taxi after passing a curving bend which ultimately led to the accident.

“I heard the screeching of tyres and saw the taxi hit the girl. She flung metres away and the taxi driver stood in shock watching his passengers rushing out of the taxi screaming,” Mfeka said.

He added that the paramedics arrived and executed first-aid treatment at the scene before rushing her off to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital with injuries on the head and leg.

Anna Magwaza, principal of Sobahle Pre-school where the girl attended, said that taxi drivers are always speeding in the area and neglected the rules of the road which caused most accidents.

“There is no street sign which indicates that there are school pupils crossing. Our children are crossing this road to get to school. They are not safe,” she said.

After this accident, residents took to the streets demanding speed-humps and pavements for pedestrians.

Nondumiso Bhengu, a resident, said that there have been too many accidents on that road and that they were demanding to speak to the local Councillor Bhekumuzi Mchunu.

“We would not stop blocking the road until our demands about pavements and street humps had been addressed,” Bhengu said.

Constable of the South African Police Service Lungile Zulu confirmed the protest and said that the police are monitoring the situation.