The death toll from a devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark has risen to 14, deepening national grief and renewed calls for urgent reform of scholar transport safety. The tragedy unfolded on Monday morning as learners were being transported to school, leaving families, schools and communities shattered.
Heartbroken parents were seen at the accident scene, some collapsing in tears and crying inconsolably as emergency workers recovered bodies and tended to the injured. The scene was described by witnesses as chaotic and emotionally overwhelming, with stunned community members gathering along the roadway as the scale of the tragedy became clear.
The crash involved a scholar transport minibus taxi carrying learners from Sebokeng to various schools in Vanderbijlpark. According to witnesses it is alleged that the driver attempted to overtake several vehicles and collided head-on with an oncoming heavy-duty truck. Twelve learners reportedly died at the scene, while four others were rushed to hospital. Tragically, one of the injured learners later succumbed to their injuries, pushing the death toll to 14. The driver of the minibus survived.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said she had learned of the incident with deep sadness and extended heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, classmates and school communities of the learners who lost their lives.
“This is a devastating incident that has robbed families and communities of young lives full of promise,” the Minister said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected during this profoundly difficult time.”
Gwarube confirmed that she had been personally informed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chilloane, who is attending to the matter alongside law enforcement and emergency services. The MEC is expected to continue providing updates as more details emerge.
The Department of Basic Education said it stands ready to provide psychosocial support to affected learners, educators and families, working in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education. The Minister also urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, particularly during peak school transport hours, and stressed the importance of ensuring that all vehicles transporting learners are roadworthy and safely operated.
Teacher union SADTU said it was deeply shocked and devastated by the crash, which occurred just days after schools reopened for the 2026 academic year. The union confirmed that the learners were from Sebokeng and were en route to different schools in Vanderbijlpark.
“This is a heartbreaking loss that has shaken educators and communities alike,” SADTU said in a statement. The union reiterated its long-standing call for a comprehensive and properly regulated scholar transport plan to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy and drivers are qualified and vetted.
SADTU General Secretary Dr Mugwena Maluleke extended condolences to the families of the deceased learners, as well as to their schoolmates, teachers and support staff, and wished those injured a speedy and full recovery.
Political parties and civil society organisations also added their voices to the growing calls for accountability and stricter law enforcement. The African Transformation Movement (ATM) described the incident as unacceptable and said it highlighted the ongoing crisis of road safety within the scholar transport and taxi sectors.
“Death cannot be normalised as a consequence of negligence, poor law enforcement and disregard for road safety regulations,” ATM said, calling for visible policing, stricter inspections and decisive action against reckless driving and unroadworthy vehicles. The party demanded a full and transparent investigation, with those responsible held fully accountable.
NotInMyName International went further, describing the tragedy as a “systemic failure” rather than a mere accident. The organisation cited preliminary reports alleging that the minibus was overloaded and attempting a reckless overtaking manoeuvre on a known dangerous road.
“These children were failed by the very systems meant to protect them on their way to school,” the organisation said, demanding a consequence-backed investigation, an overhaul of scholar transport regulation and zero-tolerance enforcement against overloading and dangerous driving.
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in Gauteng also expressed profound sadness, with chairperson Midday Mali describing the incident as one of the most painful scenes he has encountered. Mali, who attended the scene, said the emotional toll on families, emergency responders and the community was immense.
SANTACO Gauteng emphasised that learner safety must remain a non-negotiable priority and urged parents and scholar transport operators to ensure that vehicles are compliant and regularly inspected. The organisation clarified that the minibus involved was operating as a scholar transport vehicle and was not affiliated with SANTACO, noting that scholar transport is still in the process of being incorporated as an affiliate structure.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party also conveyed its condolences and raised serious concerns about the vetting and licensing of drivers, the roadworthiness of scholar transport vehicles and the condition of roads used daily by learners. The party linked the tragedy to broader systemic challenges, including school placement pressures that force learners to travel long distances from their homes.
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, communities across Gauteng and beyond are left mourning the loss of young lives and demanding that concrete action be taken to prevent similar tragedies. For grieving families in Vanderbijlpark and Sebokeng, the pain remains raw, as the country once again confronts the deadly consequences of unsafe scholar transport.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lt Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed police are investigating as the scholar transport was overloaded with 18 people while it is a 14-seater.
