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Vanderbijlpark school transport crash exposes serious licensing concerns
A morning meant for school ends in heartbreak
What should have been an ordinary school morning in Vanderbijlpark turned into one of the darkest days the community has faced in years. As the sun rose over Gauteng on Monday, families sent their children off to school, unaware that many would never return home.
At least 12 pupils lost their lives when a scholar transport minibus collided with a side tipper truck on Fred Droste Road, also known as the R553. The crash happened shortly before 7 am, a time when the road is usually filled with commuters, school transport vehicles, and parents doing final drop-offs.
Emergency services arrived to a devastating scene. Rescue workers, visibly shaken, comforted grieving relatives as the scale of the tragedy became clear.
What happened on Fred Droste Road
According to information shared by police at the scene, the minibus carrying the pupils was involved in a collision with a truck while travelling along the R553. Witnesses told authorities that the minibus driver allegedly attempted to overtake several vehicles moments before the crash.
Gauteng police confirmed that a case of culpable homicide has been opened as part of the investigation. Provincial police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said the case would form part of a broader inquiry into the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.
Licensing concerns come to the fore
As details emerged, attention quickly turned to the condition and legality of the scholar transport vehicle. Preliminary reports shared by Newzroom Afrika suggested that both the driver and the minibus involved in the crash may have been operating without valid licences.
Gauteng Transport spokesperson Lesiba Mpya confirmed that an investigation into these licensing concerns is now underway. The department is looking into whether the vehicle was properly registered and whether the driver was legally permitted to transport schoolchildren.
Mpya also used the moment to urge parents and guardians to be vigilant. He stressed the importance of ensuring that scholar transport vehicles are roadworthy and officially registered with the Department of Transport.
A familiar fear for Gauteng parents
For many families in Gauteng, this tragedy has reopened long-standing anxieties about scholar transport safety. In working-class communities, especially, scholar transport services are a lifeline. Parents rely on them daily, often with limited alternatives.
Social media has been flooded with grief, anger, and calls for accountability. Many users have questioned how unlicensed vehicles can still be transporting children, despite regulations meant to protect young passengers. Others have shared their own fears and near misses involving overcrowded or poorly maintained school transport vehicles.
More than an accident
This incident has once again highlighted the fragile balance between access to education and road safety. While investigations continue, the loss felt in Vanderbijlpark is immeasurable. Classrooms will have empty desks. Families will face an unimaginable silence.
As authorities work through the facts, many South Africans are asking a simple but painful question. How many warnings will it take before scholar transport safety becomes nonnegotiable?
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Independent on Saturday
