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The scene of a deadly scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark on 19 January 2026.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane says preliminary investigations into the cause of the scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark indicate that the driver was attempting to overtake multiple vehicles when a head-on collision with a truck occurred.
The crash claimed the lives of 13 learners.
Five other learners were injured, with three in a critical state.
Chiloane says they fear the death toll might increase.
“The private scholar transport driver was trying to overtake multiple vehicles at a time. And if you look at the time, he was most probably late to drop off learners because they were going to five different schools so I’m sure he was trying to catch up time. And then as he was trying to overtake a number of vehicles, the truck came on the opposite.”
Meanwhile, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says the accident highlights the urgent need to prioritise learner safety.
Santaco Secretary Graham Fritz has urged operators and parents to ensure vehicles are roadworthy before transporting learners.
“We urge scholar transport operators and parents alike to work more diligently and collaboratively to ensure that vehicles transporting learners are roadworthy, compliant and regularly inspected before children are allowed to use them. The safety of learners must always come before convenience or cost.”
