The funeral service for 18-year-old Phehello Motaung and 7-year-old Lesego Sefatsa is currently underway in Sebokeng Zone 14, where grieving relatives, friends, and community members have gathered to bid farewell to the two learners whose lives were tragically cut short in the Vaal scholar transport crash earlier this month.
The emotional service is one of several funerals taking place across the Vaal region as families mourn the loss of 14 young learners who died in the devastating accident. The tragedy occurred on Monday, 19 January 2026, when a minibus taxi transporting learners to school collided with a truck on the Golden Highway near Vanderbijlpark. The impact claimed multiple lives instantly, leaving families shattered and the nation in shock.
Phehello Motaung and Lesego Sefatsa were among the youngest and oldest victims of the crash, symbolising the wide-ranging impact of the tragedy on families and schools alike. Their deaths have left an indescribable void in their households, as well as in the broader Sebokeng community.
During the funeral service, speakers reflected on the lives of the two learners, painting a picture of children full of promise whose futures were abruptly stolen. Lesego, a Grade 2 pupil, was remembered as a cheerful, curious, and intelligent child who brought joy to everyone around her. Family members spoke fondly of her infectious smile and her love for learning, describing her as a child who dreamed big despite her young age.
Phehello, a Grade 11 learner, was remembered as a disciplined and respectful young man with a deep commitment to his faith. He was actively involved in church activities and had a strong passion for music, which he used as a form of expression and worship. Friends described him as humble, kind-hearted, and supportive, someone who inspired those around him to stay focused and hopeful about the future.
As mourners gathered in Sebokeng, emotions ran high, with many struggling to come to terms with the scale of the loss. The tragedy has plunged the Vaal community into deep grief, while also reigniting urgent calls for improved safety standards in scholar transport across South Africa. Parents have expressed anger and frustration, questioning how such a devastating incident could have been allowed to happen.
Several families of the victims are holding individual funeral services on Friday, choosing to mourn their loved ones privately within their communities. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for a mass funeral service scheduled for Sunday at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Ground, where other victims of the crash will be laid to rest together in a collective show of solidarity and remembrance.
Authorities have confirmed that the driver of the scholar transport vehicle involved in the crash has been charged with multiple counts of murder. The case has intensified public debate around accountability, road safety, and the regulation of vehicles used to transport learners daily.
As Sebokeng and the broader Vaal region continue to grieve, the funerals serve as painful reminders of lives lost too soon and the urgent need to prevent such tragedies from happening again.