A devastating road accident in South Africa's Gauteng province has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 13 young lives. The collision between a truck and a school minibus occurred on the morning of Monday, January 19, 2026, in the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark.
Details of the Fatal Collision
The incident happened around 7 a.m. as the private minibus was transporting students to various primary and high schools in the southwest of Johannesburg. According to witness accounts reported by authorities, the minibus was in the process of overtaking stationary vehicles when it collided head-on with the truck.
Preliminary reports from the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) indicated a grim toll: 11 schoolchildren died at the scene. The tragedy deepened as two more children succumbed to their injuries later in the hospital. In addition to the fatalities, five other pupils sustained what were described as "critical injuries."
Emergency Response and National Mourning
Gauteng Emergency Services swiftly responded to the horrific scene. They transported five patients to Sebokeng Hospital and two others to Kopanong Hospital for urgent medical care. The bus driver, who also suffered injuries, was among those taken for treatment.
The aftermath was heart-wrenching. Parents were seen weeping uncontrollably at the crash site as emergency personnel worked, with reports noting they were picking up scattered books and stationery. The emotional impact of the loss has resonated at the highest levels of government.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed profound sadness, stating that national and provincial authorities would provide affected families and schools with necessary psychosocial support. "Our children are the nation’s most precious assets and we must do all we can — from observing the rules of the road to the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars — to protect learners," President Ramaphosa said.
Calls for Improved Transport Safety
The tragedy has sparked urgent calls for a review of scholar transport safety. The country’s Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, pointed out that many accidents involving school transport are caused by driver error. She called on the Department of Transport to ensure that all vehicles entrusted with carrying schoolchildren are fully roadworthy.
South African police confirmed that the incident is under investigation and that the truck driver will be questioned as part of the probe. The community of Vanderbijlpark and the nation at large are left mourning an immense and preventable loss of young life.
