The families of 18-year-old Phehello Motaung and eight-year-old Lesego Sefatsa are preparing to lay their loved ones to rest this Saturday in a joint funeral following the devastating scholar transport crash in the Vaal earlier this week. The two young learners were among the 14 children who tragically lost their lives when a minibus taxi transporting pupils was involved in a fatal collision with a truck on Monday.
The incident has sent shockwaves through communities across Gauteng and beyond, reigniting concerns about the safety of scholar transport and the conduct of drivers entrusted with the lives of children. According to preliminary information, the minibus taxi was allegedly speeding and overtaking multiple vehicles moments before it crashed into the truck. The impact was catastrophic, leaving the minibus severely damaged and resulting in one of the deadliest scholar transport accidents in recent years.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where they were met with scenes of devastation. Several learners were pronounced dead on site, while others succumbed to their injuries later in hospital. The scale of the tragedy has left families, schools and the broader community grappling with immense grief and unanswered questions.
Phehello Motaung, who was 18 years old, was nearing a significant milestone in his life, with hopes and dreams that are now heartbreakingly unfulfilled. Lesego Sefatsa, just eight years old, was at the beginning of her journey, remembered by those who knew her as a bright and innocent child with a promising future. Their joint funeral reflects the shared pain of families brought together by an unimaginable loss.
As preparations for the funeral continue, investigators are working to establish the exact cause of the crash. Authorities have confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway to determine whether reckless driving, vehicle condition, or other factors contributed to the accident. Law enforcement officials have indicated that those found responsible will face the full might of the law.
The tragedy has once again highlighted ongoing concerns around scholar transport safety, including speeding, overloading, and poor enforcement of road regulations. Parents and community leaders have called for stricter oversight of scholar transport operators, arguing that preventable negligence continues to cost young lives.
Messages of condolence have poured in from across the country, with government officials, civil society organisations and ordinary citizens expressing sorrow and outrage. Many have used the moment to demand meaningful action to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.
As the families of Phehello Motaung and Lesego Sefatsa prepare to say their final goodbyes, the nation mourns alongside them. Their deaths, along with those of the other learners, serve as a painful reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving. Two young lives were cut short far too soon, leaving behind grieving families and a country once again forced to confront the urgent need for safer roads and responsible scholar transport.
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