Vaal Death Toll Rises: Scholar Taxi Driving Towards Oncoming Traffic
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has expressed deep shock and sadness following a tragic crash in Vanderbijlpark, where at least 13 learners lost their lives in a private scholar transport incident. The accident occurred on Monday morning when a Toyota Quantum, carrying learners from various primary and secondary schools, collided with a truck.
Lesufi visited the crash site, where distressed parents gathered alongside emergency services and police officers. “It’s an unbearable situation, an unbearable scene,” he remarked to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika. “The investigating team has just briefed me, but there are one or two things that I still need. It is clear that the taxi was trying to overtake several cars and, unfortunately, it was confronted by the truck.”
Witnesses reported that the truck driver attempted to swerve to avoid the collision, but it was too late. This unfortunate incident has reignited calls for stricter regulations within the private scholar transport sector, which Lesufi described as having been left “unregulated for quite some time.”
“I said to the MEC (Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane) that I want him and the MEC for transport to immediately find a way of scheduling a meeting with this sector,” Lesufi urged. “I really feel that we need to engage this sector. Remember, within the scholar transport we have some regulations, but in the private scholar transport system, there are lots and lots of loose ends, and unfortunately, this is the price we have paid this morning.”
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that the driver of the scholar transport vehicle was injured and taken to the hospital. Tragically, one of the injured learners passed away after being rushed to medical care, raising the death toll to 13.
The authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, focusing on how such a devastating accident could occur. This incident has prompted urgent discussions about the safety measures and oversight of scholar transport services, ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future.
As the investigation continues, the community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss of young lives and the profound impact this tragedy has on families and schools across the region. The call for increased regulation in the sector reflects a growing awareness of the urgent need for change, ensuring the safety of learners during their daily commutes.
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