Joy Maimela, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in South Africa’s Parliament, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of 13 school learners in a road accident involving a private scholar transport vehicle in the Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark areas of Gauteng Province. The incident occurred on a busy road south of Johannesburg during the morning school run.
Maimela described the loss of so many young lives as profoundly painful, particularly coming so early in the 2026 academic year, with schools having been open only a few days. She extended sincere condolences to the parents, families, and school communities affected by the tragedy.
In her statement, the Chairperson highlighted the emotional impact on learners, educators, and communities, and called for urgent psychosocial and trauma support services to be provided by the Department of Basic Education and provincial education departments in collaboration with other stakeholders.
Preliminary reports indicate that the learner transport minibus collided with a truck, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Officials and community leaders have joined in mourning the loss and emphasised the importance of ensuring safe scholar transport to prevent such incidents in the future.
This accident has drawn nationwide attention to scholar transport safety and prompted calls from government officials and civil society groups for strengthened oversight, regulation, and enforcement of safety standards for vehicles and drivers serving schoolchildren.
