WATCH: Ramaphosa speaks on Vanderbijlpark scholar transport tragedy, calls for reform

By Marcus Moloko

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a shift in the transport system following a devastating accident that claimed the lives of twelve learners on Monday, where a minibus taxi they were travelling in collided with a truck in Vanderbijlpark.

Speaking outside the 2026 Basic Education Sector Lekgotla venue, he described the incident as a moment of deep national pain.

“There’s nothing as painful as having to deal with the death of your prized possession, your child, who is still young, and have to bury him or her,” Ramaphosa said.

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Ramaphosa also touched on systemic issues surrounding scholar transport. He pointed out that, unlike in many other countries where children were ferried in clearly marked school buses, driven by trained professionals, South Africa had largely relied on the taxi industry to fill the gap.