Vaal Crash: ‘Scholar transport system failed these children,’ says MEC Chiloane
Gauteng MEC for Education warns parents not to accept substandard transport following a tragedy that claimed 14 young lives in Vanderbijlpark.
Image: Supplied
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said that the scholar transport system failed the 14 pupils killed in a Vanderbijlpark crash due to poor oversight, weak regulation, and a lack of accountability.
The tragedy occurred when a scholar transport minibus collided with a truck on the R533 on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Speaking on Friday at a memorial service held at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Ground Hall, Chiloane described the raw grief felt across the community.
“Fourteen learners, with names, families, and futures, stolen from them in an instant,” he said.
“Fourteen seats in classrooms will remain empty. Fourteen dreams that will never be realised. Fourteen lives stolen from us.”
He said the tragedy spanned all ages and schools, affecting learners from Grade 1 to Grade 11 across seven schools, including Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark, Vaal High School, Oakwood Primary, Oliver Lodge Primary, Vaal Triangle Primary, Noordhoek Primary, and El-Shaddai Christian School.
Chiloane welcomed the arrest of 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, the driver of the scholar transport vehicle. Dludla faces 14 counts of murder as well as charges of reckless and negligent driving.
He appeared before Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday but abandoned his bail application; he is set to appear again on March 5, 2026.
“The wheels of justice have begun to turn,” Chiloane said.
“We will allow the law to take its course. But let me be absolutely clear: there must be consequences. The blood of these 14 children cries out for justice, and justice they shall have.”
Gauteng MEC of Education Matome Chiloane has called on parents to prioritise safety over convenience after 14 pupils were killed in a Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash.
Image: Supplied
Before concluding his speech, Chiloane issued a stern warning to scholar transport operators.
“The era of recklessness is over. The era of cutting corners is over. When a parent places their child in your vehicle each morning, they are entrusting you with the most precious asset in their lives. That trust is sacred and not to be betrayed.”
He further highlighted long-standing safety issues, including overloaded vehicles, unlicensed drivers, unroadworthy vehicles, speeding, and drivers ignoring traffic signals.
“Drivers who take reckless chances with children’s lives because they are running late or trying to make extra trips - this culture of impunity ends now,” he said.
The Gauteng Department of Education, he said, is working with the Department of Transport, law enforcement, and traffic authorities to implement immediate, rigorous measures.
Every scholar transport vehicle in the province will undergo safety inspections, every driver’s licence will be verified, and operators failing to meet standards will be removed.
He urged parents to be vigilant partners in child safety.
“Know who is transporting your children. Verify credentials. Report violations. Do not accept substandard service simply because it is convenient or affordable. Your child’s safety is a right, not a bargain.”
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