The devastating road crash in the Vaal area has left families shattered, as the death toll from the collision between a minibus taxi and a truck continues to weigh heavily on the nation. Among the grieving parents is the father of 17-year-old Puleng Maphalla, who has spoken out about the unbearable pain of losing his daughter in what he describes as a tragedy that went far beyond a simple road accident.
Puleng, a Grade 11 learner at El-Shaddai Christian School, was one of 14 pupils who lost their lives when the scholar transport vehicle they were travelling in collided with a truck along the Golden Highway between Bophelong and Sebokeng, near ArcelorMittal, on 17 January 2026. Initially, 11 learners were declared dead at the scene, but the number later rose as others succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Speaking to SABC News, Puleng’s father described his daughter as a gentle, loving child who was deeply devoted to her faith. He recalled how they attended church together the Sunday before the tragedy, where Puleng sang joyfully and spent time with fellow congregants. According to him, church was a central part of her life, and she found happiness and purpose in worship and song.
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“She loved the church very much, even more than I did,” he said. “Everyone was happy that day. Nothing suggested that it would be the last time I would see her alive.”
His world came crashing down the following morning when he received news that the scholar transport his daughter used had been involved in a horrific accident. Rushing to the scene, he was confronted with a sight that would haunt him forever.
Puleng’s father said the scene did not resemble an accident, but rather something far more disturbing. He described it as a “murder scene,” insisting that reckless behaviour was responsible for the loss of so many young lives. In his view, the incident could not simply be dismissed as culpable homicide, but as a preventable tragedy caused by dangerous driving.
An eyewitness supported these claims, stating that the taxi driver had overtaken multiple vehicles at high speed before colliding head-on with the truck. The Gauteng Department of Education MEC, Matome Chiloane, later confirmed that the driver had previously been reprimanded for reckless driving. Following the incident, a case of culpable homicide was opened as investigations into the crash continue.
The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and anger, with parents and community members calling for stricter enforcement of road safety regulations, especially for scholar transport vehicles. Many families were left traumatised after witnessing the aftermath of the crash and identifying their loved ones at the scene.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since conveyed his condolences to the affected families, saying the country mourns the loss of innocent young lives. In a statement released shortly after the accident, the President expressed his sorrow and extended prayers to the families, friends, and school communities impacted by the tragedy.
As investigations continue, Puleng’s father and other grieving families are left searching for answers and accountability. For them, the pain is immeasurable, and the hope remains that justice will be served so that no other parent has to endure such a heartbreaking loss.
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