Panic and fear gripped the community of Lenasia South on Wednesday morning, 21 January 2026, after a minibus transporting schoolchildren caught fire while en route to school. The shocking incident is the latest in a series of scholar transport emergencies reported in Gauteng, intensifying public concern over the safety of learners who rely on private transport to get to school each day.
According to eyewitness accounts and footage shared widely on social media, the white Mercedes-Benz minibus suddenly went up in flames while travelling through Lenasia South. Thick smoke and fire quickly engulfed the vehicle, prompting nearby residents to rush to the scene without hesitation. Community members were seen bravely removing school bags from the burning minibus and checking repeatedly to ensure that no children were still trapped inside.
In the viral video, voices can be heard shouting in panic, with some people initially fearing that children were still inside the vehicle. Moments later, relief followed when it was confirmed that all pupils had already been removed and were safe. Learners were seen sitting and standing on the roadside, visibly shaken, as residents continued working to extinguish the fire and retrieve belongings from the smoking wreckage.
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While no injuries were reported in this incident, the close call has reignited nationwide debate about the condition of scholar transport vehicles and the responsibility of operators to ensure learner safety. Briefly News confirmed that it had reached out to the Gauteng Department of Education for comment, but no official response had been issued at the time of publication.
The incident comes amid heightened tension following several deadly and near-fatal scholar transport accidents across the province in recent days. Just days earlier, a horrific crash near Vanderbijlpark claimed the lives of multiple schoolchildren, while other accidents in Ekurhuleni and KwaZulu-Natal left several learners injured. Together, these events have left parents anxious and communities demanding urgent intervention.
South Africans took to social media to express their frustration, grief, and fear. Many called for stricter regulation, regular vehicle inspections, and harsher consequences for transport providers who neglect maintenance. Others appealed for prayer and national introspection, saying the repeated tragedies point to deeper systemic failures.
One user urged authorities to stop criticising law enforcement when unroadworthy vehicles are impounded, arguing that such actions could save lives. Another stressed that transporting children is a serious responsibility that requires vehicles to be in excellent condition at all times, with routine servicing and proper insurance.
As scholar transport incidents continue to dominate headlines, parents, educators, and communities are increasingly united in their call for change. For many families, sending children to school should never feel like a life-threatening risk. The Lenasia fire, though it ended without loss of life, stands as a stark warning — and a reminder that decisive action is needed before another tragedy strikes.
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