Vaal scholar transport crash: Death toll rises to 12, Education MEC devastated by tragedy

Gauteng police have confirmed that the death toll from a tragic crash involving a private scholar transport vehicle in Vanderbijlpark, in the Vaal has risen to 12.

Speaking to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika at the scene on Monday, a police official said that 12 counts of culpable homicide are being investigated. 

11 pupils, from different primary and high schools, were declared deceased at the scene. While three other pupils and the driver of the scholar transport vehicle were injured. The scholar transport minibus crashed into a side tipper truck on Fred Droste Road in Vanderbijlpark. 

The police confirmed that one of the injured had since died in hospital bringing the death toll to 12.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who visited the crash scene with Education MEC Matome Chiloane, told Newzroom Afrika that it was “an unbearable situation, an unbearable scene”. 

According to Lesufi, the scholar transport taxi was attempting to overtake more than one vehicle when it crashed into a truck.

Lesufi said the truck driver attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, but it was too late.

MEC Chiloane said in a statement: “It really is a tragic day for us as the Department and the province. We extend our deepest condolences to the learners, families, and school communities affected. We call for greater vigilance when it comes to scholar transports, particularly private scholar transport.”

He confirmed that the three learners sustained critical injuries and are receiving urgent medical care at local hospitals.

The Mercury has previously reported that the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and ChildSafe South Africa had revealed that children aged five to 14 accounted for 5.61% of the 12 172 people killed on South African roads in 2024, a figure both organisations described as preventable.

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