Gauteng police have arrested the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport following the crash in Vanderbijlpark that killed 12 students.
The driver was arrested after being released from the hospital and is scheduled to appear in Vanderbijlpark Magistrates' Court within 48 hours. He faces 12 counts of culpable homicide as well as reckless and negligent driving.
Colonel Mavela Masondo, a provincial police spokesperson, stated that police visited hospitals and the mortuary to confirm the number of fatalities and injuries, and that 12 learners died on the scene, while five injured learners were transported to the hospital, one of whom has since been discharged.
He went on to say that the truck driver involved in the crash was unharmed, but the passenger was injured and is still in the hospital. Investigations are still ongoing, with police gathering witness statements.
Earlier, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) had revised the death toll from the devastating learner crash on the R553, confirming that 12 learners died, and not 14 as previously reported. The department said one of the deceased learners has yet to be formally identified, as the identification process continues.
The clarification follows the tragic crash that occurred on Monday morning on the R553 behind ArcelorMittal, involving a minibus taxi transporting learners and a side-tipper truck. Eleven learners died at the scene, while seven survivors sustained injuries and were rushed to hospital. Initial information from the scene suggested a higher death toll, but authorities have since confirmed that the number of deceased learners stands at 12.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the overloaded Toyota Quantum was attempting to overtake four vehicles when it collided head-on with an oncoming truck. Four injured learners and the driver of the minibus taxi were taken to Sebokeng Hospital, while one learner and the assistant truck driver were transported to Kopanong Hospital.
Speaking outside Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal on Tuesday, GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was working closely with families and authorities to ensure clarity and support during the identification process.
“As the department, we want to confirm that the number of learners who passed away is 12. Out of the 12, one child is still unidentified,” Mabona said.
He said education officials have been deployed to the government mortuary to assist families as they arrive to identify their loved ones, adding that the department remains confident the outstanding identification will be concluded.
Mabona also provided an update on the injured, confirming that three learners remain in hospital, two in public healthcare facilities and one who was airlifted to Alberton Private Hospital late last night following parental intervention.
He said the driver of the minibus taxi has been discharged and is now being processed by police, while one learner and the assistant truck driver were also discharged after receiving medical treatment.
“At this stage, that is the status regarding the number of learners who perished and those who survived,” he said.
The department said it would begin visiting affected families from midday on Tuesday, including a household that lost two children in the crash, before proceeding to other bereaved families. Later in the afternoon, Premier Panyaza Lesufi and members of the provincial executive are expected to brief the media on the government's coordinated response and next steps.
Mabona also appealed to the public to act responsibly, warning against the spread of unverified information and AI-generated images on social media.
“Families are mourning and need to be respected. It is unnecessary to create false images and circulate them for content or likes,” he said.
He added that the department would only release the names and photographs of deceased learners with the consent of families, stressing that not all families are comfortable engaging with the media.
Education officials are also working around the clock to ensure proper arrangements for memorial services and funerals, while psychosocial support, already rolled out to affected schools, will continue in the coming days. Several schools in the area lost multiple learners in the crash.
Schools attended by the deceased learners:
The Star
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