Grief has turned into anger in Vanderbijlpark after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that the 22-year-old driver involved in the crash that killed 12 learners was operating without a valid Professional Driving Permit, which had expired in November 2025. As Lesufi visited bereaved families on Tuesday, January 20, raw pain spilled over into frustration, with one family calling on the government to show greater compassion after relatives were left waiting for hours at the crash scene, carrying the weight of unimaginable loss while officials were granted access before them. The tragedy occurred on Monday morning on the R553 behind ArcelorMittal, where a minibus taxi transporting learners collided head-on with a side-tipper truck, claiming the lives of 12 learners.
Several others were injured and rushed to hospital. The family of six-year-old Ofentse Jaden Vinger who attended grade 1 at Oliver Lodge Primary School said their grief is compounded by the painful knowledge that his death was preventable. Speaking through tears, Ofentse’s uncle, Lebo Maqekoane, said the tragedy has reopened wounds for families in the Vaal, where scholar transport accidents have claimed young lives before.
“This is one too many,” he said, describing a community shattered by a loss that should never have happened. While Maqekoane praised SAPS members, traffic officers and emergency personnel for showing compassion under harrowing circumstances, he expressed deep hurt over how grieving families were treated at the crash scene.
