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A view at the scene of the scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness over the passing of pupils. This as after 13 learners died following a crash involving a minibus taxi transporting learners in Vanderbijlpark.
Four other learners who sustained injuries have been rushed to hospital.
In a media statement, Ramaphosa says it is upsetting that the incident coincidentally occurred on the same day the South African Human Rights Council has released a report on scholar transport in the North West.
“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,” says Ramaphosa.
The President adds that families and schools with be offered the necessary psychological support.
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA MOURNS MULTIPLE DEATHS IN CAPE FLATS VIOLENCE AND SCHOLAR TRANSPORT CRASH
President @CyrilRamaphosa has expressed his sadness at the loss of life in violence on the Cape Flats at the weekend and in a collision involving a scholar transport vehicle this…
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) January 19, 2026
Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission has released a damning report on the mismanagement of the scholar transport system in North West, exposing systemic failures that put learners’ lives at risk.
The investigation found widespread use of unroadworthy buses, chronic overloading, multiple-trip operations, and late-arriving vehicles that cause learners to miss valuable school time.
The report also flags the non-payment of service providers and inadequate provision for learners with disabilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NchYqc1Q9FI
WATCH | The SAHRC has pointed out systemic failures in the scholar transport system and raised concerns about vehicles being overloaded. pic.twitter.com/PrOVX0qNaW
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 19, 2026
Safety of learners
The Gauteng Department of Education says the private scholar transport sector should be responsible to ensure the safety of learners and the roadworthiness of vehicles.
Gauteng Education spokesperson, Steve Mabona says transport providers have to ensure the safety of learners. “The private school and transport, department of public transport have a responsibility to make sure that all those that are transporting our children, their cars, conform to the rules as it were.”
[HAPPENING NOW]: Gauteng Premier Panyaza @Lesufi and Education MEC @matomekopano are at the scene of a tragic private scholar transport incident in Vanderbijlpark, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 11 learners. Emergency services are on site, and further details will be… pic.twitter.com/jy9NE81som
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) January 19, 2026
Video| Reaction to learners killed in scholar transport:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75qMR8gWQPo
‘Respect the rules of the road’
Similarly, the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NSAGB), has called on communities to respect the rules of the road, in order to avoid carnage on roads that leads to loss of young lives.
General Secretary of the Association of School Governing Bodies Matakanye Matakanye says children must not be allowed to get into unroadworthy vehicles emphasising that even the characteristics of the driver should be known.
“If we don’t know that driver, we must not allow our children to get into that car. The time is now, if we want to stop these things, the time is now- whilst they are enforcing that side, but the community must ensure that they monitor but, the department must also stop giving tenders to people that they do not know, for profit’s sake, please,” says Matakanye.
