Courts & Legal
Vanderbijlpark tragedy sparks urgent calls for accountability after 14 learners die
A community united by grief and anger
Outside the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court this week, the mood was heavy and raw. Parents stood shoulder to shoulder with community leaders, transport associations, and ordinary residents who felt compelled to be present. This was not a routine court appearance. It was a collective act of mourning and a demand for accountability after a school transport crash that had devastated families across Sedibeng.
Fourteen learners have now lost their lives following the crash, with two more children dying in the hospital days later. Their deaths turned an already painful tragedy into one of the most harrowing school transport incidents the region has seen in years.
Driver withdraws bail as charges escalate
The 22-year-old scholar transport driver, Ayanda Dludla, appeared briefly in court before withdrawing his bail application. He is expected back in court on 5 March. Prosecutors have since confirmed that the charges against him now include multiple counts of murder linked to the crash.
Police confirmed that the charges were escalated after the two learners who had been fighting for their lives succumbed to their injuries. The legal shift has only intensified public scrutiny, with many residents insisting that this case must set a precedent for road safety and learner transport accountability.
Political leaders call for no leniency
Speaking outside court, the Sedibeng MMC for Transport, Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, did not mince his words. Visibly emotional, he described the deaths as heartbreaking and called for the harshest possible legal consequences.
As a parent himself, Ndwandwe said the idea of releasing the accused on bail was unacceptable. He labelled the alleged conduct reckless and negligent, echoing the anger felt by many families who believe this tragedy was entirely preventable.
A wider problem on South African roads
The tragedy has reopened uncomfortable conversations about road discipline and scholar transport safety across Gauteng. Ndwandwe pointed to ongoing enforcement operations, including a recent clampdown in Lenasia led by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. That operation saw more than 60 non-compliant scholar transport vehicles impounded in a single day.
For many parents, this statistic was alarming but not surprising. Social media reaction has been swift and unforgiving, with users questioning how unsafe vehicles are allowed to transport children daily and why meaningful enforcement often only follows loss of life.
Education and transport sectors under pressure
The Gauteng Department of Education released the names of the learners who died, a sombre moment that underscored the scale of the loss. Schools across the province observed moments of silence, while counsellors were deployed to support grieving classmates and teachers.
Transport associations have also weighed in. Sedibeng Learner Transport Association chairperson Samuel Koenane acknowledged the constitutional duty placed on drivers to protect their passengers. He stressed that while associations can advocate for safety, the justice system ultimately carries the responsibility of delivering consequences.
Justice system under the spotlight
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that the case now involves 14 counts related to the learners’ deaths, alongside charges of reckless and negligent driving. His confirmation added clarity but little comfort to families desperate for answers.
As proceedings continue, the Vanderbijlpark tragedy has become more than a single court case. It is a reckoning. For parents who trust scholar transport drivers with their children’s lives each morning, this case has shaken that trust to its core.
The crowd outside the court made one thing clear. This community is no longer willing to accept excuses, weak enforcement, or light consequences when children pay the ultimate price.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Mercury
