President Ramaphosa Orders Urgent Action on Scholar Transport Safety Following Vanderbijlpark Tragedy
Boksburg – President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to take decisive action to improve the safety of scholar transport across South Africa, following a devastating accident in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week that claimed the lives of 12 learners. The President's commitment comes amid growing public concern over the safety and reliability of transport services used by school children.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Basic Education Sector Lekgotla in Boksburg on Wednesday, Ramaphosa emphasised the critical need to safeguard the lives of young learners. "I am going to be directing the minister [of basic education] and [the] transport [department] to look at how we can save the lives of our children. Our children are the future, and they are the most prized possession that we have as a nation," he stated.
The tragedy in Vanderbijlpark occurred when a minibus scholar transport vehicle, allegedly attempting to overtake on a narrow road, collided with a truck. Dashcam footage has emerged showing the minibus driving on the wrong side of the road moments before the collision.
The Gauteng government has revealed that the driver involved in the fatal crash was operating with an expired Professional Driving Permit (PDP). This revelation has further fuelled public anger and calls for stricter enforcement of regulations governing scholar transport services.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligent driving. He is expected to appear in court soon.
Ramaphosa expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of life, describing the incident as a case of "negligent driving". He stressed that the country "cannot accept a situation where young lives are at risk when travelling to school."
"We cannot let this tragedy pass. We need to act now and we need to act together to ensure that scholar transport is safe and reliable," he added.
The President's call for action comes as another alarming incident involving scholar transport was reported in Limpopo. A scholar transport driver, allegedly overloading his seven-seater vehicle with 22 pupils, abandoned his vehicle and fled when he spotted traffic officers.
The Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo has condemned the driver's "reckless behaviour", stating that he put pupils' lives at risk. "The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene upon noticing traffic enforcement. This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of prioritising road safety, especially when transporting learners. Overloading is not only a serious offence but also a recipe for disaster," the department said in a statement.
The department further urged "parents, drivers and operators to take responsibility for the safety of our children and passengers."
Beyond the immediate crisis of scholar transport safety, President Ramaphosa also addressed broader issues concerning the quality of education in South Africa. He emphasised the importance of strengthening early grade reading and numeracy, stating that it is a national priority.
"When children have not learnt to read for meaning or to work confidently with numbers by the end of the foundation phase, the cost is borne by the entire education system," he explained. "Unless we get it right at the outset, learners spend the rest of their school careers trying to catch up."
The government is intensifying its focus on evidence-based teaching of literacy and numeracy, ensuring that every classroom is supported by a coherent curriculum and well-trained teachers. They are also working to provide quality, age-appropriate, grade-specific, and culturally relevant learning and teaching support materials.
"By investing in foundational learning, we are building a resilient education system that can sustain learning, adapt to shocks, and equip every child with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world," Ramaphosa said.
He also highlighted the progress made in improving matriculation results over the past three decades. "Over the past 30 years, the department has achieved a remarkable turnaround. Three decades ago, only around half of learners obtained a matric certificate. Last year, 88% of learners attained the NSC," he noted.
Ramaphosa also acknowledged the concerning number of pupils who drop out of school before reaching matric. He called on the department, teachers, parents, and communities to counsel pupils who were contemplating leaving and to work together to ensure that pupils completed their schooling.
In conclusion, President Ramaphosa's commitment to improving scholar transport safety and strengthening foundational learning signals a renewed focus on ensuring the well-being and educational success of South Africa's children. The nation now awaits concrete action to translate these promises into tangible improvements on the ground.
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