A devastating road accident has occurred south of Johannesburg, resulting in the loss of thirteen schoolchildren’s lives. According to the police, a minibus carrying pupils to school collided with a truck near Vanderbijlpark, approximately sixty kilometers from Johannesburg. Investigators believe the driver lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake other cars.
The death toll increased after one critically injured child succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Several other pupils remain in serious condition. The victims included both primary and high school learners, with some as young as six years old. Authorities have confirmed that the minibus was transporting children to school due to limited public transport options in the area.
Images from the scene show the minibus severely damaged on the roadside, with distraught parents gathered behind police tape. Some parents collapsed in grief upon being allowed to identify the bodies. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi described the scene as devastating, highlighting the severity of the incident.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for stricter enforcement of road safety laws and improved oversight of school transport services to better protect learners. This accident underscores South Africa’s ongoing road safety crisis, which is characterized by speeding, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles. Despite having a modern road network, the country continues to experience a high number of fatal accidents.
The tragedy is the latest in a series of deadly school transport accidents in recent months. According to statistics, over 11,400 people lost their lives on South African roads in 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for safer travel. The government and relevant authorities are under pressure to address the root causes of these accidents and implement effective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The accident has sparked concerns about the safety of school transport services, particularly private minibuses, which many parents rely on due to limited public transport options. As the investigation into the accident continues, the focus will be on identifying the causes of the crash and implementing measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring. The South African government is expected to take concrete steps to address the road safety crisis and ensure that learners are protected while traveling to and from school.
