Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma and Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele have extended their condolences to the families of the nine schoolchildren who were killed when a minibus taxi they were travelling in collided with a train on Wednesday.
The crash occurred at a level crossing between Blackheath and Melton Rose Stations in the Western Cape, the Department of Transport said.
The taxi was transporting 13 children to school. Nine schoolchildren died in the accident while the remaining four and the taxi driver were critically injured and were taken to hospital.
"President Jacob Zuma and Minister Ndebele, who are currently on a state visit to China, have conveyed condolences to the families and friends of the nine children killed in the collision between a mini-bus taxi and a train in the Western Cape this morning.
"We also wish those injured a speedy recovery. We call upon road users to exercise extreme caution when approaching railway crossings," Deputy Transport Minister Jeremy Cronin said.
Investigators from Metrorail and the Railway Safety Regulator were at the accident scene, while the Road Traffic Management Corporation had also assigned an independent team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists to assist with the investigation, he added.
Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant, who visited the injured schoolchildren in hospital, also extended his condolences to the families of the pupils that were killed.
He said the schoolchildren involved in the accident were from four schools and that the department would offer assistance in any way it could.
"Western Cape Education Department officials will work with the schools concerned to provide further debriefing and trauma counselling to learners and teacher," Grant added.
The Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) is conducted a preliminary investigation into the accident and its inspectors have observed that the level crossing protection was adequate.
"The flashing lights and booms were found to be in working order. The level crossing is also marked by road signage. This is the maximum level of protection which can be afforded to a level crossing.
"In light of the above measures, preliminary indications point towards possible negligent vehicle driver behaviour at the crossing point," the RSR said in a statement.
