Fourteen children on their way to school never made it home after a scholar transport minibus, operated by a man known in the community as Papa Jimmy, collided with a lorry on the R533 in Vanderbijlpark. Among the dead were seven-year-old Lesego Sefatsa, a Grade 2 pupil, and ten-year-old Thato Mokoena, who had already set his heart on becoming a doctor.
The crash, which involved a minibus taxi and a truck, claimed the lives of 12 pupils at the scene, with two more dying later in hospital. Three others are still in hospital receiving medical treatment as investigations into the circumstances of the collision continue.
The school community has been left reeling. One school alone lost four pupils in the tragedy, which took place on a Monday morning as learners headed to class.
‘We all trusted him’
Lesego’s family say they never imagined that arranging transport with a long-established operator would end with such heartbreak.
The little girl, who attended Oakwood Primary School, had been using Papa Jimmy’s scholar transport since the beginning of last year.
“We signed her up on the advice of other parents who go to the same school. Papa Jimmy has been operating for a long time, and we all trusted him,” said family member Mampho Sefatso during the memorial service at Saul Tsotetsi Sports Grounds in Sebokeng.
“They have been using this transport to get to school since January 2024. This month marked one full year of using it,“ she said.
She added that the family had not known anything about the state of the vehicle or the driver’s legal status.
“We obviously did not know whether the vehicle was roadworthy or not. We just arranged the transport, and the children were getting to school and coming back home safely,” Sefatso said.
It later emerged that the driver’s public driver’s permit had long expired.
Attempts were made to reach the owner of the scholar transport, identified as Papa Jimmy, but his phone rang unanswered. He also did not respond to a text message requesting comment.
Dreams cut short
The grief is shared by the family of 10-year-old Thato Mokoena, who is remembered as a bright child with big plans.
Family member Ntswaki Mokoena said Thato was determined about his future.
“He told us that one day he will build his own clinic, and the whole neighbourhood will be welcome to use it. He was very bright, and he enjoyed going to school and being around his peers,” she said.
Those dreams ended on the R533, along with the lives of 13 other children whose names and stories are now being recalled at memorials and funerals across Vanderbijlpark and Sebokeng.
Driver abandons bail
Behind the wheel of the ill-fated minibus was 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, the scholar transport driver.
Dludla appeared briefly in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he abandoned his bail application.
He is facing 14 counts of murder and reckless driving, as well as three counts of attempted murder relating to the injured pupils still in hospital. The matter has been postponed to 5 March to allow for further investigations.
Earlier reports had also referred to 14 counts of culpable homicide and reckless driving, but his latest court appearance confirms the more serious charges of murder and attempted murder.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said on Monday that the truck driver emerged from the crash unharmed, but his passenger was injured and is receiving treatment in hospital.
A week of trauma for schools
For the schools that lost pupils, the past week has been one of deep pain and confusion.
“It was a painful week. We always hear about tragedies like this from a distance, without fully understanding the emotional depth and impact until it happens closer to home,” one school representative, Mofukunyane, said.
She said visiting the accident scene left her traumatised.
“I saw a child’s hand hanging through the window and another child already lying on the ground. The taxi was torn into two pieces. That sight will never leave my mind. We are not coping, and our children are not coping either. I cannot even begin to imagine how the parents are feeling.”
Classmates of the deceased are struggling to accept what happened.
“We had psychological assistance, but we also invited a pastor for prayer. Teachers had to step in to comfort and support the children and show them love. We are trusting God for healing,” she said.
‘They were once-in-a-lifetime friends’
For many pupils, the tragedy has been deeply personal.
Seventeen-year-old Happiness Magagola from Mahareng Secondary School said she lost two close friends, Pheelo Motaung and Sibongile Madonsela, in the crash.
Sobbing, she said: “Maybe I’m going to sound harsh, but this is not the will of God.”
Magagola said the trio were inseparable after meeting at church and bonding over their shared love for God, school and their dreams.
“They were my safe space. My mother loved them too. It’s so sad that they didn’t live long enough to realise their dreams,” she said.
She stayed away from school after the accident, saying she was not emotionally able to cope.
“I last spoke to them on Monday morning. We were excited about going back to our different schools since the term had just started. After the accident, I couldn’t go to school because I wasn’t well.”
She said she would miss their jokes, their faith and their friendship.
“They were once-in-a-lifetime friends. I doubt I’ll ever find others like them.”
Another pupil, Kelebogile Maetisa from Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark, said losing her friend Puleng Maphalla had been the most painful experience of her life.
“I had to put on a brave face the whole week because school had to continue, but inside I was breaking,” she said.
“This is so painful because some of these learners had just started high school and some were in matric. All that excitement is gone now.”
She said watching video footage of the accident had made her grief worse.
“I didn’t have friends before Puleng Maphalla. She was kind, funny and very supportive,” she said.
Maetisa urged parents to be more hands-on about safety.
“Parents need to vet the drivers and check the vehicles that transport their children. I’m fortunate that I don’t use scholar transport, but I can’t imagine how learners who do are feeling right now,” she said.
Memorials, funerals and official response
The pain was laid bare during a memorial service at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex in Zone 14, Sebokeng, where schools that lost pupils gathered to honour the young victims.
Emergency ambulances were stationed outside as grieving families, overwhelmed by emotion, were treated on site. Inside, scenes of uncontrollable crying, collapsing and hysteria showed the depth of the trauma.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health, primary healthcare services, emergency medical services and psychosocial support were provided at the event.
Departmental communications officer Porcia Gibson said most cases treated were related to hysteria.
“Ten patients were treated with shock mixture. Hysteria is normal in a tragedy like this,” she said.
She added that 20 people received psychosocial support from social workers and spiritual care practitioners.
“There were no emergencies,” Gibson said.
The funeral for some of the pupils will be held today at the same venue, while others were laid to rest yesterday. Some families chose not to be part of the mass funeral and will bury their children privately.
‘The days of cutting corners are done’
At the memorial, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane warned scholar transport operators that the province would tighten enforcement.
“The days of cutting corners and evading the process are done. We are arresting everyone in the scholar transport sector who does not adhere to the rules. The rules are meant to avoid tragic incidents like this one,” he said.
For grieving families like those of Lesego and Thato, those promises come too late. As they prepare for funerals and court dates, their focus is on the children they entrusted to a minibus that never reached school.
Follow Us on Twitter
