Meet the Grade 8 pupil, one of few who survived the Vaal Scholar Transport crash

Meet the Grade 8 pupil, one of few who survived the Vaal Scholar Transport crash but is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Families of children affected by the tragic Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash say they are still waiting to formally engage with the owner of the vehicle involved, as well as the taxi association to which the driver is believed to belong. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, has left the community shaken and many parents searching for answers amid ongoing investigations.

According to relatives of the pupils, the immediate aftermath of the crash was marked by confusion, panic, and overwhelming emotional distress, making it impossible for families to establish contact with the transport operator or any representatives from the taxi association. One of the parents, Tello Matolo, whose child survived the crash, said the chaotic scene prevented meaningful communication at the time.

Matolo explained that emergency services, law enforcement, and medical personnel were focused on rescuing victims and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals, leaving families struggling to understand exactly what had happened. He added that while he understands the urgency of the rescue efforts, the lack of communication afterward has been deeply frustrating for parents seeking accountability and reassurance.

Matolo’s child, a Grade 8 learner, was among the pupils injured in the collision and is currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). The parent described the emotional toll the incident has taken on his family, saying the experience has been both traumatic and exhausting. Despite the relief that his child survived, he said the road to recovery remains uncertain and emotionally draining.

“The pain is not only physical,” Matolo said. “Families are suffering mentally and emotionally. Parents who lost their children and those whose children survived are all carrying heavy emotional burdens.”

He emphasized that families urgently need access to professional psychological support to help them cope with the trauma. According to Matolo, counseling services should be made available not only to parents but also to surviving learners who may struggle to process what they witnessed.

The devastating crash occurred on Monday when a scholar transport vehicle carrying schoolchildren collided with a truck in the Vanderbijlpark area. The incident sent shockwaves through the local community, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls for improved safety measures in learner transport services.

Preliminary information suggests that the scholar transport driver may have attempted to overtake another vehicle on the road. During the maneuver, the driver allegedly failed to notice an oncoming truck, leading to a head-on collision. Authorities have cautioned that these details remain part of an ongoing investigation and have not yet been officially confirmed.

Initial reports following the crash indicated that 13 learners had lost their lives. However, the Gauteng Department of Education later issued an update on Tuesday, revising the death toll to 12 after verifying hospital records and official reports.

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