Taxi driver charged after horror school transport crash kills 12 learners
Gauteng police have arrested the driver of a scholar transport minibus following a crash in Vanderbijlpark that claimed the lives of 12 learners.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Gauteng police have arrested a 22-year-old scholar transport driver following a crash in Vanderbijlpark that claimed the lives of 12 learners.
The accident, which sent shockwaves across the country, occurred on Monday, Jan. 19.
Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the driver was arrested after being discharged from hospital.
“He is expected to appear before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court within 48 hours, facing 12 counts of culpable homicide as well as reckless and negligent driving,” Masondo said.
He said police had visited hospitals and the mortuary to verify the number of fatalities and injuries.
“It can be confirmed that 12 learners died at the scene of the accident and five were taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment, of whom one has since been discharged,” Masondo said.
Masondo added that the driver of the truck involved in the crash escaped unharmed, while the passenger sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in hospital.
“Investigations are under way as police continue to obtain witness statements,” he said.
Earlier, the Gauteng Department of Education said one pupil remains unidentified among the 12 learners who were killed, while three children are still in hospital, including one in a private facility.
Departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona briefed the media on Tuesday at Hoërskool Vanderbijl, where three learners died in the crash.
“Out of the 12 learners who passed away, we still have one unidentified child,” Mabona said.
He said officials had been deployed to the government mortuary to assist families who may arrive to identify loved ones.
“We are confident that the child will be identified,” he said.
Mabona said three learners remain hospitalised.
“Two are in public hospitals and one was transferred last night to a private hospital following intervention by the parents,” he said.
He added that one learner had been discharged after receiving medical treatment, while the truck assistant involved in the crash had also been discharged.
The scholar transport driver was discharged on Monday night and is being processed by police.
“We are aware that the driver was discharged last night and is being processed by the police. They are better placed to explain how they are managing the matter,” Mabona said.
The department has visited Hoërskool Vanderbijl to provide psychosocial support to affected families, learners, teachers and the broader school community.
Mabona said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane would visit the families of the deceased at noon on Wednesday.
“We know that there is a family that lost two children, and we will also visit the other families of the learners who passed away,” he said.
Later in the day, Premier Panyaza Lesufi and members of the provincial executive are expected to brief the media at the Sedibeng West District Office at 3 p.m. on the government’s response and next steps.
“This will be an update on how we are moving forward from here,” Mabona said.
He urged members of the public to refrain from circulating unverified content on social media, particularly AI-generated images.
“It is unnecessary for people to create graphics and circulate them while families are mourning. How must families feel when pictures of children who are not theirs are shared and people pretend to grieve with them?” he said.
Twelve learners were killed when the scholar transport vehicle, a Toyota Quantum they were travelling in crashed into a truck in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal, Gauteng on Monday.
Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
Mabona said the department would seek permission from families before releasing the names or photographs of the deceased.
“Families are not the same. Some will want to engage with the media, others will not. We will respect those wishes,” he said.
He said officials were working to coordinate memorial services and funeral arrangements, and welcomed assistance from community members and organisations.
Psychosocial support has already been rolled out at several affected schools and will continue, Mabona said.
The breakdown of fatalities by school is as follows: Hoërskool Vanderbijl (three, including one unidentified learner), Vaal High School (one), Oakwood Primary School (one), Vaal Triangle Primary School (one), Oliver Lodge Primary School (one), Noordhoek Primary School (one), and El Shaddai Independent School (four).
Mabona said the learner who was discharged had been treated at Kopanong Hospital.
Lesufi will be joined by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, Education MEC Matome Chiloane, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, Sedibeng District Executive Mayor Lerato Maloka and Emfuleni Executive Mayor Sipho Radebe.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
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