Date Posted

SA scholar transport driver to appear in court after crash that killed 12 learners

Facebook
X
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
The 22‑year‑old scholar transport driver involved in the tragic crash that claimed the lives of twelve learners in South Africa’s (SA) Gauteng province’s Vanderbijlpark is expected to appear in a local magistrate’s court on Thursday.

He faces twelve counts of culpable homicide, along with charges of reckless and negligent driving.

 

Three other learners remain in hospital following the collision, which occurred on Monday when the minibus transporting the children reportedly crashed head‑on with a truck on a narrow road.

 

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed on Tuesday that the driver’s specialised permit, an Operating Licence for Scholar Transport, had expired last year. He described the incident as a devastating failure in road safety and compliance within the scholar transport sector.

 

According to eyewitness accounts, the driver was allegedly overtaking more than three vehicles at once moments before the crash.

 

“The driver of the scholar transport vehicle, who allegedly caused the fatal crash, is now facing a string of serious charges,” Lesufi said. “Eyewitnesses reported that he overtook multiple vehicles on a narrow road before colliding with an oncoming truck.”

 

–SABC/ChannelAfrica–