Gone too soon: 11 pupils killed in Gauteng scholar transport crash

Transport

Cape Town – A devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark has left at least 11 pupils dead and several others fighting for their lives, turning what should have been a normal school morning into one of Gauteng’s darkest days this year.

The learners were travelling to school early on Monday morning when the minibus taxi they were in was involved in a collision with a heavy-duty truck.

Emergency services rushed to the scene as chaos unfolded on the road, with wreckage scattered and desperate attempts being made to save those trapped inside the vehicle.

Gauteng Education Department spokesperson Steve Mabona said the scene was still active when officials arrived.

“Accordingly, about 11 learners passed on at the tragic scene. We understand that there’s about five learners that are en route to different medical facilities. The scene is active, as we are informed. Emergency services are attending to those that are involved in this said accident,” Mabona said.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane was on his way to the scene when he confirmed the scale of the tragedy. “The information I have is that the taxi collided with a truck. We lost 11 learners and five are en route to hospital, if they have not arrived yet,” Chiloane said.

The crash is believed to have happened when the scholar transport vehicle was struck by a side tipper truck, causing the minibus to veer off the road. The exact cause of the collision is still under investigation, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether speed, road conditions or mechanical failure played a role.

Provincial officials have called for a full investigation into the crash, saying accountability and safety in scholar transport must be prioritised to prevent another disaster like this from happening.

 

Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram

Picture: X/@EmmiieTLO

For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com

Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele

Article written by