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The scene of a deadly scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark on 19 January 2026.
The Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor Sipho Radebe says the deadly scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal highlights a growing national crisis on South Africa’s roads.
This follows a collision between a minibus used as scholar transport and a truck that claimed the lives of 13 learners and left several others critically injured.
Radebe says pressure on taxi and scholar transport drivers to meet tight schedules is contributing to dangerous driving behaviour.
“Remember this has become a national crisis, everywhere we know, we understand taxi people that they are working on target and which is making them not to be tolerant on the road on the way. But we are also calling on to please (prioritise) safety first, we can rather be late. If you follow what has happened from what we heard, this happened around half past seven, so I can tell you that maybe the driver was under pressure that he was already late.”
WATCH | Thirteen learners have died in the Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash. SABC News reporter Lopang Alamu is at the Sebokeng mortuary with emotional family members. pic.twitter.com/gsOFsUhlaS
— SABC News (@SABCNews) January 19, 2026
Meanwhile, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says the province is devastated by a tragic collision.
Chiloane has called for stricter oversight and vigilance around private scholar transport.
“I have called for greater vigilance from parents and also schools. I’ve called for vigilance on their part…I’ve told them that they have a responsibility amongst others to look at the cars that are dropping learners at school, to also have a register of each and every vehicle that brings in children at school so that they able to account that this car, this registration number and this driver are responsible for this particular time.”
Gauteng learners killed in fatal crash in Vanderbijlpark:
-Report by Luyanda Danca
