A horrific taxi accident in KwaZulu-Natal has left 19 schoolchildren injured, reigniting public frustration over the safety of the minibus taxi industry in South Africa. The crash, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, 26 August 2025, has once again highlighted growing concerns about reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles, and the lack of accountability within the sector.
The Accident
The incident happened just after 2 pm on Pebble Drive in Savannah Park, near Chatsworth. According to emergency services, a minibus taxi carrying children aged between four and 12 lost control before crashing into the wall of a nearby building. Witnesses say the children were on their way home from school when the accident took place.
ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson confirmed that paramedics arrived swiftly on the scene, where they treated multiple injured children. With the assistance of concerned community members, parents were contacted, and the young patients were later transported to several Durban hospitals for further medical care. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, but the extent of some injuries remains under medical evaluation.
Jamieson added that the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation by the South African Police Service (SAPS). “At this stage, the events leading up to the crash are unknown; however, SAPS were in attendance and will be investigating further,” he explained.
Public Reaction
The crash has triggered widespread anger on social media, where many South Africans expressed frustration at the repeated involvement of taxis in serious accidents. Users voiced concern over what they described as “coffins on wheels,” blaming both reckless driving habits and the broader taxi industry’s resistance to stricter regulations.
One outraged parent, Anou Sham Shaik, commented: “So unsafe, yet the taxi association wants everyone to travel by taxi and not our vehicles. It’s not safe at all. This is plain madness.” Others echoed similar sentiments, with one user saying the driver should never be allowed behind the wheel again. Another added that SANTACO, the South African National Taxi Council, is failing commuters by not addressing safety concerns.
The frustration also opened a debate about alternatives for school transport. Some questioned why schools no longer provided their own buses, with one resident, Anthonie Joubert, asking: “Where are the days when every school had its own bus to transport children from and to school? This taxi nonsense must stop.”
A Pattern of Tragedies
This accident follows a string of devastating taxi-related crashes in KwaZulu-Natal. In August 2024, six people died and ten were injured when a taxi carrying MK Party members overturned and caught fire. Just last month, in July 2025, another taxi crash claimed the life of a pupil and injured 10 others. More recently, four people were killed in a collision between a truck and a taxi on the N3 near Bergville earlier this August.
These repeated tragedies have intensified calls for government intervention. Critics argue that unless stricter safety measures and enforcement are implemented, the cycle of accidents will continue to put thousands of lives at risk every year.
Conclusion
While relief has been expressed that none of the children involved in the latest crash lost their lives, the incident has left many parents shaken and communities demanding answers. For now, the focus remains on the recovery of the 19 injured children, while authorities continue their investigation into the cause of the crash. However, for many South Africans, the bigger question lingers: how many more accidents must occur before lasting reforms are made in the taxi industry?
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