The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Tlabela, has expressed deep concern following a serious road crash involving a scholar transport vehicle on Monday morning (16/02).
According to reports, a nine-seater Toyota Condor transporting 17 children collided with another vehicle after the driver allegedly attempted to evade law enforcement officers. It is understood that the driver diverted onto an old dirt road before re-entering the highway, leading to the collision.
Tlabela strongly condemned the incident, describing the conduct as reckless and unacceptable. “The reckless conduct displayed in this incident is unacceptable, particularly when it involves the lives of our children. Scholar transport operators carry a sacred responsibility to ensure the safety of learners. Lawlessness on our roads will not be tolerated,” she said.
Preliminary information suggests the driver was operating the vehicle without a valid licence. All 17 learners were transported to hospital with injuries of varying severity. No fatalities were reported.
The MEC reiterated her call for intensified law enforcement operations to clamp down on illegal and unroadworthy scholar transport vehicles and to ensure full compliance with road safety regulations.
The crash comes just a month after a similar tragedy in Vanderbijlpark, where 14 learners lost their lives, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed calls for government action against reckless and negligent scholar transport operators.
Compiled by Clement Matroos
