THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY
An eyewitness has described the devastating scene of the crash that claimed the lives of 13 pupils in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, on Monday.
The children were travelling to school along a narrow stretch of road known for reckless truck driving when their scholar transport vehicle collided with a truck. What began as an ordinary morning for cyclist Mxolisi Jokozele quickly turned into a traumatic encounter.
Jokozele said he was cycling in the early hours when he came upon the wreckage, unaware that he would witness a scene that would leave him in tears.
“As I approached, the driver of the scholar transport looked disoriented and in shock,” he recalled. “The children’s lifeless bodies were lying scattered on the road. All I could do was cry.”
He added that it was not long before members of the public began arriving at the scene.
“It was painful to see all those kids lying there. I saw one child who survived – a girl – and she was standing there crying too,” he said.
The initial death toll was reported as 11, but later rose to 13. The driver of the minibus survived the crash.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the minibus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle and failed to notice an oncoming truck, resulting in a head-on collision.
Distraught parents rushed to the scene after hearing of the accident, some fearing their own children may have been among the victims. One parent said he went to check whether his child, who also uses scholar transport, was involved.
Police have launched a probe into the crash, with investigations now focusing on accountability. Thirteen cases of culpable homicide have been opened.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said more charges may be added as investigations continue. Statements are expected to be obtained from eyewitnesses, including the surviving driver of the scholar transport vehicle.