Tragedy in Vanderbijlpark: Thirteen schoolchildren killed in devastating transport accident

The scene was one of unimaginable horror on the morning of Monday, January 19, as blood-stained school bags lay scattered along the road, mirroring the despair engulfing Vanderbijlpark. An overloaded scholar transport vehicle, a Toyota Quantum, had collided head-on with a truck, resulting in the deaths of thirteen children, all of whom were passengers in the ill-fated transport.

As emergency personnel laboured among the wreckage, cries of anguish filled the air, echoing the heartache of parents and family members gathering at the scene. Many parents arrived in a state of panic, rushing from their homes in their pyjamas, driven by fear and desperation after hearing the news on social media. Among them was a mother who lost two children in the crash, collapsing in a scene of overwhelming sorrow.

“Two of my children are dead. I just want to see their bodies. What did I do to God to deserve this? I just want to die,” she said, her grief palpable as emergency responders attempted to assist her.

Colonel Mavela Masondo, spokesperson for the Gauteng police, confirmed that several other children were injured, with immediate medical assistance provided. Initial reports indicated eleven fatalities, but the toll had surged to thirteen once more victims were identified.

According to Masondo, the Quantum had been attempting to overtake several vehicles when it collided with an oncoming truck. The aftermath left the Quantum on its side, with only two seats remaining, as the driver of the truck lay unconscious, fighting for his life in hospital.

Four children and the driver of the Quantum were rushed to Sebokeng Hospital for treatment, while another child and the assistant truck driver were transported to Kopanong Hospital. As the investigation pursued its course, eyewitness accounts detailed the terrifying moments leading up to the collision. One witness reported that the driver of the taxi had disregarded safety, attempting to overtake at high speed despite the imminent danger of oncoming traffic.

The driver, aged just 22, is under scrutiny, with concerns emerging surrounding his qualifications. It has been suggested that he lacked a professional driver's permit (PDP) and had previously faced reprimands for reckless driving from other motorists. This vital element will form the centrepiece of the ongoing investigation, with police looking closely into the vehicle’s roadworthiness and the driver's qualifications.

As mortuary vehicles arrived to collect the young victims, the atmosphere turned into one of unbearable heartbreak. The mourning community united in their sorrow, with many crying, collapsing in grief, and seeking solace in one another. Condolences poured in from all corners of Gauteng, with officials urging for stricter regulation of the private scholar transport sector.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited the scene, labelling it devastating. He emphasised the need for immediate dialogue regarding the regulation of private scholar transport, highlighting that it had long been left unchecked.

“I really feel that we have left this sector unregulated for quite some time,” Lesufi stated. “Unfortunately, this is the price we have paid this morning.”

Meanwhile, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko extended her condolences to the families of the dead children and said those receiving medical care are getting the best possible treatment. Counselling services are being offered to further assist affected families.

IOS