Tragic Collision Claims Lives of Thirteen Schoolchildren in Vaal

Thirteen schoolchildren have tragically lost their lives and five others have been injured following a horrific crash between a private scholar transport vehicle and a truck in Vanderbijlpark on Monday morning. The accident occurred when the scholar transport taxi collided with the truck while attempting to overtake other vehicles on a busy stretch of road.

At the scene, a white Toyota Quantum lay mangled on the side of the R553, its roof crushed and body torn open, a stark reminder of the force of the collision. Silver forensic foil covered the bodies of children scattered along the roadside, some of whom had been thrown several metres from the taxi. School bags and shoes were strewn across the ground, separated from the children who had put them on just hours earlier. Nearby, a massive truck involved in the crash had veered off the road; its cab crumpled and wheels sunk into the earth.

By the time emergency services finished clearing the scene, 13 children were confirmed dead. For their families, the unimaginable grief was just beginning. Inside the Sebokeng government mortuary, distraught parents and grandparents gathered to identify the remains of children they had sent off to school that very morning.

Confess Nthoba, who lost her only daughter, Lesedi, was devastated after viewing her child’s body. “Our children were badly injured. That taxi was cut in half. When I arrived at the scene, one of the children was hanging out of the taxi, her arm outside. I will never forget that,” she shared. “She was my only daughter. I am lost for words. I don’t know what to do or say.” The severity of Lesedi’s injuries was so great that Nthoba questioned the possibility of an open-casket funeral.

Like Nthoba, many parents spent hours searching through hospital wards, clinging to a glimmer of hope that their child had survived. “I was hoping they would tell me she was injured. All I saw was the driver being taken for scans. He didn’t even say anything to me,” Nthoba lamented.

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane called the scale of the tragedy “overwhelming.” He confirmed, “When I was briefed earlier in the morning, we were told that 11 learners had died at the scene. Later, together with the brigadier, we received confirmation that another learner had died in hospital.” Eventually, a thirteenth child was confirmed dead.

Chiloane stated that this tragedy marked one of the most painful moments of his tenure. “This is a devastating day for the department and the province. This is not something you ever prepare yourself for,” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo provided insights into the circumstances of the crash, stating that preliminary investigations indicated the driver of the scholar transport attempted to overtake several vehicles before colliding head-on with the truck. “We are investigating a case of culpable homicide. We are looking at reckless driving, speeding and whether the vehicle was roadworthy,” Masondo said. Police are also examining whether the vehicle was overloaded and if the driver was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Among the victims was eight-year-old Letlotlo Makwe, a beloved Grade 2 pupil at Vaal Primary School. Her grandmother, Dineo Shumang, recounted her final moments. “I saw her a few hours before. I thought it was a normal day. I thought I would see her again later,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “She was a beautiful child. She loved being beautiful. She took care of herself. She was full of life.”

Lesedi Mokgoba, a family member of 13-year-old Bokamoso Mokgoba, shared how this was her first day on the taxi. “She was happy, respectful and loved school. We believed she would be safe,” she said, reflecting on the family’s heartbreak.

Long after the bodies were removed, the road remained littered with twisted metal, shattered glass, exercise books and lunch containers. Parents stood in silence or screamed openly as the magnitude of their loss sank in.

Chiloane issued a renewed warning regarding reckless driving by scholar transport operators, asserting that this tragedy highlights critical failures in regulation and enforcement. “I would rather have children arrive late than never arrive at all,” he stated firmly.

As families now grapple with arrangements for funerals instead of school pickups, there is little comfort to be found. The unbearable grief of a routine school trip that ended in senseless loss has left a community shattered and in mourning.

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