Three learners have been hospitalised following a collision involving a scholar transport vehicle and a light motor vehicle in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, raising renewed concerns about learner transport safety on South African roads. The crash occurred on the morning of Tuesday, 20 January 2026, along Kingfisher Avenue in Germiston, prompting an immediate emergency response.
According to Ekurhuleni Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson William Ntladi, rescue teams were dispatched shortly after receiving the call. On arrival, they found that a Toyota Quantum scholar transport vehicle and a Volkswagen sedan had been involved in the collision. Three learners sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals for further medical treatment. Fortunately, six other learners escaped unharmed, along with the drivers of both vehicles.
Ntladi explained that emergency crews from Wadeville Fire Station were among the first responders on the scene. Paramedics assessed all occupants of both vehicles, stabilised the injured learners, and ensured that the area was secured to prevent further incidents. The exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, and authorities have not yet confirmed whether speed, human error, or road conditions played a role.
The Ekurhuleni incident comes barely a day after a devastating scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark in the Vaal region, which claimed the lives of 12 learners. In that tragedy, a minibus taxi transporting pupils was involved in a head-on collision with a truck, leaving the nation in shock and mourning. Several other learners, as well as the driver of the minibus taxi, were injured in the crash.
The driver involved in the Vanderbijlpark accident has since been arrested after being discharged from hospital. He is facing 12 counts of culpable homicide, as well as charges of reckless and negligent driving. The case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stricter regulation and monitoring of scholar transport services across the country.
Road safety advocates and concerned parents have expressed alarm at the frequency of crashes involving learner transport vehicles. Many argue that inadequate enforcement of traffic laws, reckless driving, and the poor roadworthiness of some vehicles continue to put children’s lives at risk. Others have called for increased police visibility during peak school travel hours and stricter penalties for drivers who flout safety regulations.
Education and transport authorities have repeatedly urged parents to ensure that scholar transport operators are properly registered, vehicles are roadworthy, and drivers are qualified and experienced. However, incidents such as those in Ekurhuleni and Vanderbijlpark highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring learner safety.
As investigations into the Germiston crash continue, officials have appealed to motorists to exercise caution, especially around school transport vehicles. Communities across Gauteng remain on edge, hoping that lessons will be learned from these incidents to prevent further loss of young lives on the country’s roads.
About the Author
