The death toll from a devastating scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark has risen to 13 learners, deepening grief across Gauteng and the country as calls intensify for urgent action to improve road and learner transport safety.
The Gauteng Department of Education confirmed on Monday that a further learner had succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash, which occurred earlier in the day on 19 January 2026. At the time of an earlier update, 11 learner fatalities had been confirmed.
“The Gauteng Department of Education wishes to confirm that the death toll in the tragic scholar transport incident has risen to 13 learners,” said departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona. “All information remains preliminary as investigations continue. This is an extremely painful moment for the affected families, schools and communities.”
The incident involved a head-on collision between a heavy truck and a scholar transport vehicle while learners were being transported to school. Several other pupils were injured and rushed to hospital, with some reported to be in serious condition.
Mabona said the department was working closely with emergency services and law enforcement agencies as investigations into the cause of the crash continued. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families, learners and school communities affected by this tragedy,” he said, adding that psychosocial support would be provided to those impacted.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Gauteng also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a stark reminder of the crisis on the province’s roads. In a statement, the party said the tragedy highlighted reckless driving, the poor condition of roads in areas such as Emfuleni, and the lack of visible traffic policing during peak hours.
“This horrific incident underscores the ongoing crisis of impatient and reckless driving on our roads, particularly involving heavy trucks and public transport vehicles,” said EFF Gauteng provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga. “It further exposes the poor state and dilapidating quality of our roads, where neglect greatly increases the risk of deadly accidents.”
Dunga criticised what he described as a reactive approach by authorities. “It has become a common practice that the Department of Basic Education arrives after the damage has occurred, without putting sufficient preventative measures in place,” he said.
The EFF called on the Gauteng Departments of Basic Education and Transport to prioritise scholar transport safety by ensuring vehicles are roadworthy, drivers undergo proper road safety orientation, traffic police visibility is improved, and reckless drivers are held accountable. The party said it had instructed its public representatives in Emfuleni to visit affected families and offer support.
The tragedy has drawn national attention, with President Cyril Ramaphosa also expressing his condolences. In a statement issued on Monday, the President mourned the deaths of the 13 learners alongside victims of weekend violence on the Cape Flats, where at least 26 people were killed.
“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets and we must do all we can – from observing the rules of the road to the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars – to protect learners,” President Ramaphosa said.
He described the scholar transport crash as particularly distressing, noting that it occurred on the same day the South African Human Rights Commission released a report on scholar transport challenges in the North West.
The President assured families and schools that national and provincial authorities would provide the necessary psychosocial support. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement and working with communities to protect lives.
As investigations continue, the Vanderbijlpark tragedy has once again reignited debate around learner transport safety, road conditions and enforcement, with many questioning how such a devastating loss of young lives could occur so early in the academic year.
This is a developing story.
