The tragic scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, has claimed two more young lives, bringing the total number of learners who have died to 14. Gauteng police confirmed on Thursday, 22 January 2026, that the two learners succumbed to their injuries in hospital during the early hours of the morning, days after the devastating collision.
The crash occurred on Monday and involved a minibus taxi transporting schoolchildren and a truck. Twelve learners were pronounced dead at the scene, sending shockwaves through the community and across the country. The incident has once again highlighted ongoing concerns around road safety, particularly in relation to scholar transport.
According to provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo, the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport vehicle is now facing fourteen counts of culpable homicide, along with charges of reckless and negligent driving. Initially charged with twelve counts, the charges were amended following the deaths of the two learners who were receiving medical treatment.
Masondo confirmed that the suspect was expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Authorities say the case will focus on the circumstances leading up to the crash, including whether traffic laws and safety regulations were ignored.
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane also confirmed the latest deaths, expressing deep sadness and extending condolences to the affected families. He said the two learners passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning, raising the death toll to fourteen. Four other learners remain in hospital, although one has since been discharged from the intensive care unit, offering a small measure of relief amid the tragedy.
Speaking to SABC News, MEC Chiloane issued a stern warning to scholar transport operators, stressing that negligence, overloading, and operating unroadworthy vehicles continue to endanger learners’ lives. He emphasised that strict compliance with safety regulations is non-negotiable and that authorities will intensify monitoring and enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.
The MEC’s comments come in the wake of another concerning incident in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, where a minibus taxi driver was arrested for transporting more than 20 schoolchildren in a single vehicle and operating without a valid permit. The incident further underscores widespread challenges within the scholar transport sector.
As investigations into the Vanderbijlpark crash continue, communities, parents, and education stakeholders are calling for accountability and stronger measures to ensure the safety of learners who rely on scholar transport daily. Many have urged government departments, law enforcement agencies, and transport operators to work together to close gaps in regulation and oversight.
The Vanderbijlpark tragedy has left families grieving and a nation mourning the loss of young lives cut short. As court proceedings get underway, the focus remains on justice for the victims and preventing future incidents that place children at risk on South Africa’s roads.