A tragic accident involving a school minibus taxi in KwaZulu-Natal has claimed the life of one pupil and left ten others injured. The incident, which occurred in Ndwedwe, is believed to have been caused by the driver, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Accident Details
According to KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma, the accident happened when the driver lost control of the school taxi, causing it to roll down an embankment. The minibus was carrying several pupils on their way to school.
Duma revealed that he was alerted by concerned community members through WhatsApp messages, which included photos and videos of the driver appearing intoxicated. He immediately dispatched a team to the scene of the accident and to Montobella District Hospital, where the injured pupils were receiving treatment.
Out of the ten injured students, six were treated for minor injuries and discharged, while four remain hospitalized with severe head and body injuries. Sadly, one of the pupils later succumbed to their injuries on Thursday, 24 July 2025.
Investigation and Government Response
The KwaZulu-Natal transport department has launched a full investigation into the crash. MEC Duma promised that strict action will be taken against the driver and the taxi owner. He also instructed the Road Traffic Inspectorate to conduct rigorous inspections of scholar transport vehicles across the province.
Duma emphasized the need for safer transport services for learners, stating that incidents like this highlight the urgent need for better monitoring and regulation of scholar transport drivers. He described the tragedy as avoidable and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family.
Scholar Transport Challenges in KZN
Earlier this week, Duma presented a report to the provincial transport portfolio committee, revealing that the department currently provides transport for 77,369 learners across 434 schools. This program, which operates with a budget of R341 million, is facilitated by 85 contractors in 12 districts.
However, the MEC acknowledged a significant backlog—1,571 schools and over 234,000 learners are still without transport services. He stressed that an additional R2 billion would be required to address these gaps and ensure that all learners have access to safe and reliable transport.
Rising Concern Over Drunk Driving
The incident in Ndwedwe comes amid growing concerns over drunk driving in South Africa. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy recently reported that over 500 motorists had been arrested nationwide for driving under the influence of alcohol. In KwaZulu-Natal, a separate head-on collision involving a drunk driver was reported earlier this week, further fueling calls for stricter law enforcement.
Another Recent Scholar Transport Accident
In a separate incident on Monday, 15 schoolchildren were injured in a vehicle rollover accident in Isithebe, KwaZulu-Natal. While most of the children sustained minor injuries, three were hospitalized, with one in critical condition. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the crash.
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