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At least 13 schoolchildren have lost their lives in South Africa following a collision between a school minibus and a lorry south of Johannesburg.
The accident occurred on Monday morning at about 7:00am local time in Vanderbijlpark, according to education officials. Eleven pupils died instantly, while two others later died from their injuries. Two more students are reported to be in critical condition.
Police said the crash happened when the minibus driver attempted to overtake two vehicles and collided with an oncoming lorry. Authorities confirmed that a culpable homicide case will be opened.
The minibus driver is reportedly receiving treatment in hospital, the Gauteng Department of Education said, adding that the condition of the lorry driver remains unclear.
Deadly road accidents are frequent in South Africa, often blamed on speeding, dangerous driving, and poorly maintained vehicles. In 2025 alone, 11,418 people were killed in traffic accidents — an average of about 31 deaths per day, despite a slight decline from the previous year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the incident as heartbreaking, stressing the need for stricter road safety measures and improved transport standards to safeguard schoolchildren.
