13 Schoolchildren Killed In South Africa Minibus Collision

13 Schoolchildren Killed in South Africa Minibus Collision

On January 19, 2026, tragedy struck near Vanderbijlpark, an industrial city located about 60 kilometers south of Johannesburg, when a minibus carrying schoolchildren collided with a truck.

According to South African police, the driver of the minibus appeared to have lost control while attempting to overtake other vehicles. The immediate toll was 12 pupils, but the number rose to 13 after one of the injured children succumbed to their injuries later in the day.

Rescue workers and forensic teams rushed to the scene, where images showed the crushed minibus surrounded by distraught parents and community members. Many broke down in grief when permitted to view the bodies of their children.

Authorities confirmed that the victims included both primary and high school students, ranging from as young as six years old to teenagers. Several other children sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized.

The Gauteng provincial education minister, Matome Chiloane, expressed deep sorrow, while Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi described the accident site as “a terrible scene.” President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a statement of condolence, emphasizing the urgent need to enforce road safety regulations and improve the quality of school transport services, calling learners “the nation’s most precious assets.” His words underscored the broader issue of reliance on private minibuses for school transport due to limited public infrastructure.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern of fatal crashes involving school transport in South Africa. In September 2025, five students were killed and eight injured when a school minibus ploughed into a crèche in KwaZulu-Natal.

In July 2024, another devastating accident claimed the lives of 11 children near Johannesburg when a minibus overturned and caught fire after being struck by another vehicle.

These tragedies highlight systemic issues of reckless driving, speeding, and poorly maintained vehicles that plague South Africa’s roads. The transport ministry reported that more than 11,400 lives were lost on the country’s roads in 2025 alone.

The Vanderbijlpark collision has reignited national debate on road safety and the vulnerability of schoolchildren who depend on private transport.

As families mourn, the nation confronts the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws, better regulation of school transport services, and improved public transit options to prevent further loss of young lives.