- Twelve schoolchildren and their driver perished
- The minibus overturned and caught fire
- Many schoolchildren rely on private minibuses
Twelve schoolchildren and their driver perished in a horrific accident on Wednesday in Gauteng province, South Africa. Their minibus overturned and caught fire on a road near the town of Merafong, west of Johannesburg.
The heartbreaking incident occurred just a day after schools reopened from the winter break. Seven other children were injured in the crash.
Investigators believe a small truck, known locally as a “bakkie,” slammed into the back of the minibus, causing it to lose control and overturn. The impact and subsequent fire tragically claimed the lives of those on board.
Education and transport officials rushed to the scene, offering support and coordinating the care of the injured children who were taken to a nearby hospital in Carletonville. The head of the Gauteng provincial government also visited the injured at the hospital.
Steve Mabona, a spokesperson for Gauteng’s education department, confirmed that eleven of the deceased children attended Rocklands Primary School, while the twelfth attended Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville.
“This is a horrific accident,” Mabona said, describing the impact the rear-end collision had on the minibus. “The pupils’ transport was hit from behind by a bakkie, causing it to overturn and subsequently catch fire.”
Many schoolchildren in Gauteng, South Africa’s most populous province, rely on private minibuses for daily transportation to and from school. Public transport options like municipal buses and taxis are also widely used. This tragedy highlights the importance of safety measures in student transportation.
