Thirteen Schoolchildren Killed in South Africa Minibus Collision

At least 13 schoolchildren have died after the minibus carrying them was involved in a head-on collision with a truck near Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg, police and provincial officials said.

The crash occurred on Monday morning when the minibus, transporting pupils to primary and high schools, attempted to overtake other vehicles and collided with a truck on a busy road around 07:00 local time, authorities reported. Eleven children died at the scene, and two others later died in the hospital, while several others were treated for injuries.

Emergency services responded swiftly, transporting the injured to nearby hospitals as tearful parents and community members gathered at the scene. Gauteng Province’s education and transport officials said investigations are underway and that a culpable homicide case may be opened against the driver to determine responsibility.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences to the families of the victims and called for renewed focus on road safety and the enforcement of transport regulations. Authorities have previously highlighted the high number of road fatalities in the country and the need for stricter oversight of scholar transport vehicles.

This incident underscores ongoing concerns about road safety standards and the vulnerability of learner transport on busy commuter routes in South Africa.

SOURCE: Reuters