Tshepisong, in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, has been plunged into deep mourning following the tragic deaths of two matriculants, Sagwadi Mathe and Thato Mcira, who lost their lives in the devastating R553 accident in Vanderbijlpark. The two girls, best friends who were eagerly looking forward to their final year of high school, died from injuries sustained when a scholar taxi collided with a truck on the morning of 19 January 2026.
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Briefly News visited the families of both girls, who live just metres apart, and found a community overwhelmed by grief, shock and anger. Sagwadi and Thato were among 14 people who were killed in the horrific crash, a tragedy that has reignited national outrage over reckless driving and the safety of scholar transport in South Africa.
Thato’s family described her as a gentle, intelligent and deeply spiritual young woman. Her aunt, Ntswaki Mokoena, said Thato was a committed churchgoer and a “prayer warrior” who was proud of her Sotho traditions. She had recently completed a cultural initiation ritual and was excited to apply its teachings in her everyday life. According to Mokoena, Thato dreamed of following in the footsteps of her mother, who serves in the South African National Defence Force, and her sister, who is in the Navy.
After the accident, Thato was rushed to Sebokeng Hospital before being airlifted to Alberton Hospital due to the severity of her injuries. Despite the family’s hope and prayers, she succumbed to her injuries on 21 January. “They say time heals, but this pain is unbearable,” Mokoena said, adding that Thato was meant to celebrate the completion of her initiation in February. “Her prayers moved us all.”
Just a short distance away, Sagwadi Mathe’s family was also grieving the loss of a child they described as the light of their home. Her mother, Kedibone Mathe, was inconsolable as she spoke about her daughter’s unfulfilled dreams. Sagwadi had been excited about her matric year and eagerly anticipated her matric farewell. Kedibone recalled that when they visited Sagwadi in hospital, she briefly regained consciousness and told her mother how much she was looking forward to the dance.
Sagwadi passed away on 21 January, the same day as her best friend. Her mother expressed anger toward both the driver and the owner of the scholar transport vehicle, accusing them of dishonesty and negligence. She claimed the taxi was overloaded and alleged that the driver was speeding and overtaking multiple vehicles shortly before the crash. “It’s only a 10-minute drive to the school,” she said. “Why drive like that with children’s lives?”
Sedibeng mayor Lerato Maloka visited Thato’s family and acknowledged the growing concern over road safety. She said the tragedy had forced South Africans to reflect on their behaviour on the roads and admitted that more work needs to be done to protect children who rely on scholar transport every day.
As Tshepisong mourns the loss of Sagwadi and Thato, their deaths stand as a painful reminder of the human cost of reckless driving. Families are now calling for accountability, hoping that justice will prevent other parents from experiencing the same devastating loss.
Tshepisong, in the Emfuleni Local Municipality, has been plunged into deep mourning following the tragic deaths of two matriculants, Sagwadi Mathe and Thato Mcira, who lost their lives in the devastating R553 accident in Vanderbijlpark. The two girls, best friends who were eagerly looking forward to their final year of high school, died from injuries sustained when a scholar taxi collided with a truck on the morning of 19 January 2026.
Briefly News visited the families of both girls, who live just metres apart, and found a community overwhelmed by grief, shock and anger. Sagwadi and Thato were among 14 people who were killed in the horrific crash, a tragedy that has reignited national outrage over reckless driving and the safety of scholar transport in South Africa.
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Thato’s family described her as a gentle, intelligent and deeply spiritual young woman. Her aunt, Ntswaki Mokoena, said Thato was a committed churchgoer and a “prayer warrior” who was proud of her Sotho traditions. She had recently completed a cultural initiation ritual and was excited to apply its teachings in her everyday life. According to Mokoena, Thato dreamed of following in the footsteps of her mother, who serves in the South African National Defence Force, and her sister, who is in the Navy.
After the accident, Thato was rushed to Sebokeng Hospital before being airlifted to Alberton Hospital due to the severity of her injuries. Despite the family’s hope and prayers, she succumbed to her injuries on 21 January. “They say time heals, but this pain is unbearable,” Mokoena said, adding that Thato was meant to celebrate the completion of her initiation in February. “Her prayers moved us all.”
Just a short distance away, Sagwadi Mathe’s family was also grieving the loss of a child they described as the light of their home. Her mother, Kedibone Mathe, was inconsolable as she spoke about her daughter’s unfulfilled dreams. Sagwadi had been excited about her matric year and eagerly anticipated her matric farewell. Kedibone recalled that when they visited Sagwadi in hospital, she briefly regained consciousness and told her mother how much she was looking forward to the dance.
Sagwadi passed away on 21 January, the same day as her best friend. Her mother expressed anger toward both the driver and the owner of the scholar transport vehicle, accusing them of dishonesty and negligence. She claimed the taxi was overloaded and alleged that the driver was speeding and overtaking multiple vehicles shortly before the crash. “It’s only a 10-minute drive to the school,” she said. “Why drive like that with children’s lives?”
Sedibeng mayor Lerato Maloka visited Thato’s family and acknowledged the growing concern over road safety. She said the tragedy had forced South Africans to reflect on their behaviour on the roads and admitted that more work needs to be done to protect children who rely on scholar transport every day.
As Tshepisong mourns the loss of Sagwadi and Thato, their deaths stand as a painful reminder of the human cost of reckless driving. Families are now calling for accountability, hoping that justice will prevent other parents from experiencing the same devastating loss.