Vosloorus pupils escape injury as scholar transport bursts into flames

Vosloorus pupils escape injury as scholar transport bursts into flames

In a terrifying start to their school day, two Vosloorus pupils and their driver narrowly avoided injury when their scholar transport vehicle suddenly caught fire on Thursday morning. The incident in Vosloorus Extension 7, Gauteng, comes just days after the tragic Vanderbijlpark crash, which claimed 14 young lives, leaving the community on edge about learner transport safety.

Scholar transport up in flames, pupils survived.

Two pupils and their driver survived after the kombi they were traveling in, caught alight this morning in Vosloorus.

City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) firefighters received a well alight… pic.twitter.com/oDzPT6mGUO

Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 22, 2026

Morning chaos on Inyetsane Street

City of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) received an urgent call at 6 am reporting a “well alight vehicle” along Inyetsane Street. By the time firefighters arrived, the scholar transport vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.

“All three occupants managed to get out safely with no injuries,” said DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi. “It was fortunate that both children and the driver were able to escape unharmed.”

The pupils, aged six and ten and from the same family, were on their way to school when the fire erupted. Although physically unscathed, the children were understandably shaken. Firefighters provided immediate on-scene counselling, while their parents were contacted and rushed to the scene.

Likely cause of the blaze

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was sparked by a mechanical or electrical fault in the engine compartment. Ntladi said, “It is alleged that the fire started due to a mechanical or electrical fault in the engine compartment.”

Despite the quick response, the kombi suffered extensive damage. The blaze was eventually extinguished, and the scene was handed over to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department for further investigation and rehabilitation.

Community reaction and context

Residents expressed relief that the children were unharmed, though anxiety lingers given the recent Vanderbijlpark tragedy. Social media users highlighted the importance of regular maintenance and stricter safety checks on learner transport vehicles.

“This could have ended badly. Parents need to know that vehicles carrying their children must be safe,” one local resident commented online.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of learner transport safety in Gauteng and the urgent need for oversight. Authorities have yet to release further updates on the official cause of the fire.