ANC Slams Reckless Scholar Transport Sector After Crash That Claimed 14 Young Lives

South Africa woke up heartbroken this week as news spread of yet another scholar transport disaster. Fourteen children never made it to school after the vehicle carrying them smashed head-on into a truck, a collision believed to have been caused when the driver tried to overtake several cars at once. It was the kind of scene no parent should ever have to imagine, let alone live through.

A Country Shaken By Another School-Year Tragedy

The new academic year has barely begun, yet communities are already grappling with multiple transport-related incidents involving learners. The ANC’s national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the party is deeply concerned by the recurring pattern of unsafe vehicles and reckless driving that continues to plague the scholar transport system.

According to Bhengu, the ruling party’s review of the broader transport industry has revealed multiple red flags: unroadworthy vehicles, chronic overloading, drivers ignoring basic road rules, and a blatant disregard for children’s lives. For many South African families, these issues are more than political talking points. They are lived, daily realities.

ANC Takes Aim At “Arrogant” Industry Threats

The ANC also strongly criticised recent threats from taxi and scholar transport associations to shut down operations in response to increased vehicle impoundments. Bhengu called these threats “arrogant”, arguing that they show a worrying unwillingness to comply with laws designed to protect commuters.

Her comments reflect a growing frustration among South Africans. On social media, parents expressed anger that safety concerns are constantly overshadowed by industry power struggles. One user wrote, “We can’t keep burying children because adults refuse to follow the rules.” Another added, “If your vehicle is unsafe, it must be off the road. Full stop.”

A Push For Stronger Laws And Tougher Policing

Bhengu called on law enforcement to take a firmer stance, describing many drivers’ attitudes as “nonchalant” and “indifferent” toward the very children they are paid to protect. She urged parents to take extra care in choosing safer transport options, even though she acknowledged that in many townships and rural areas, choices are limited.

The ANC also proposed amendments to scholar transport laws, hoping for tighter regulation and better protection for young commuters. Education authorities, police, parents, and transport operators were urged to work together to prevent another tragedy.

A Crisis That Demands More Than Condemnation

This latest crash has reopened an uncomfortable conversation: why are unsafe scholar transport vehicles still so widely used? For many families, affordability and accessibility often outweigh concerns about roadworthiness. Until systemic issues are addressed, these heartbreaking stories may continue.

As communities mourn the 14 children whose lives were cut short, South Africans are once again calling for change. This time, many hope it will finally come before another set of parents receives the most devastating phone call of all.

{Source:The South African}

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