VANDERBIJLPARK – At least 11 learners were killed in the Vanderbijlpark area, when the minibus taxi transporting them to school was struck by a truck on Monday morning, 19 January.
Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, is expected to visit the crash site as emergency services continue their response efforts and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision.
Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Education said that preliminary reports indicate that 11 learners died at the scene, while five learners who sustained critical injuries are currently en route to hospital for urgent medical care.
The area has been cordoned off as investigators work to piece together exactly what happened, with the cause of the collision not yet established. Emergency services, police, and paramedics remained active at the scene throughout the morning.
“At this stage, the scene remains active, and emergency services are still attending to the incident. Further verified details will be shared in due course as information becomes available,” Mabona said.
The tragedy has reignited urgent concerns about scholar transport safety in South Africa, where millions of learners depend on private and public transport to reach schools daily, particularly in areas lacking dedicated school bus services.
The incident comes amid mounting pressure on authorities to address safety standards in the scholar transport sector. Recently, the Road Traffic Management Corporation and ChildSafe South Africa revealed that children aged five to 14 accounted for 5.61% of the 12,172 people killed on South African roads in 2024.
The Department of Education has indicated that additional information will be released as the investigation progresses and further details are verified by authorities.
- This is a developing story.
