Twelve schoolchildren have died in a road accident near Johannesburg after the minibus they were travelling in collided with a lorry. The crash happened on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, south of the city, while the children were on their way to school, leaving families and communities in deep mourning. The crash happened at around 7:00am local time, during the busy morning rush, according to local education officials.
Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that all twelve pupils died at the scene of the crash. Earlier reports had put the death toll at thirteen, but health officials later clarified that the revised figure was twelve. Three other passengers survived and are currently being treated in intensive care. One of them is in a critical and unstable condition.
Police investigations suggest that the minibus driver attempted to overtake two vehicles before crashing into the lorry. The driver was taken to hospital after the incident but has since been discharged and placed in police custody. A case of culpable homicide is expected to be opened, police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said. Officials added that details about the condition of the lorry driver remain unclear.
The incident has once again drawn attention to South Africa’s ongoing road safety crisis. Speeding, reckless driving, and poorly maintained vehicles often cause deadly crashes across the country. In 2025, more than 11,000 people were killed in road accidents – an average of 31 deaths a day – highlighting the scale of the problem despite a slight decline compared with the previous year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the crash as “distressing” and expressed his condolences to the families affected. He said children’s safety must come first, with no exceptions. He called for stricter enforcement of road rules and better checks on vehicles used to transport students.
As the investigation continues, the country is grieving the loss of young lives. There are growing and urgent calls for safer roads and stronger protection for children.
