Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - At least schoolchildren were k!lled on Monday morning, Jan. 19, when a truck collided with a school minibus in South Africa's Gauteng province.
Five other pupils sustained “critical injuries” in the
incident in the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark and were taken to a hospital
for urgent medical care, public broadcaster the South African Broadcasting
Corporation said.
Preliminary reports indicated 11 schoolchildren di£d at the
scene, with two further children succumbing to their injuries later in
hospital.
The private vehicle was transporting students to various
primary schools and high schools in the southwest of Johannesburg on Monday
when the incident occurred around 7 a.m., according to authorities.
Witnesses said the minibus carrying the children was
overtaking other stationery vehicles when it hit the truck in a head-on
collision.
Police said the incident is being investigated and the truck
driver will be questioned.
Gauteng Emergency Services transported five patients to the
Sebokeng Hospital, while two others were taken to Kopanong Hospital for further
medical care. The bus driver also suffered injuries and was among those taken
to hospital.
Parents were seen weeping uncontrollably at the scene of the accident, while
emergency services were picking up books and stationery.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness at the loss
of life, saying national and provincial authorities would provide families and
schools with the necessary psychosocial support.
“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets and we
must do all we can — from observing the rules of the road to the quality-of-service
providers appointed to transport scholars — to protect learners,” said
Ramaphosa.
The country’s minister of basic education, Siviwe Gwarube,
said many of the accidents involving school transport were caused by driver
error. She called on the Department of Transport to make sure that vehicles
entrusted with transporting schoolchildren are roadworthy.
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