Grief has turned into anger in Vanderbijlpark after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that the 22-year-old driver involved in the crash that killed 12 learners was operating without a valid Professional Driving Permit, which had expired in November 2025.
As Lesufi visited bereaved families on Tuesday, January 20, raw pain spilled over into frustration, with one family calling on the government to show greater compassion after relatives were left waiting for hours at the crash scene, carrying the weight of unimaginable loss while officials were granted access before them.
The tragedy occurred on Monday morning on the R553 behind ArcelorMittal, where a minibus taxi transporting learners collided head-on with a side-tipper truck, claiming the lives of 12 learners. Several others were injured and rushed to hospital.
The family of six-year-old Ofentse Jaden Vinger who attended grade 1 at Oliver Lodge Primary School said their grief is compounded by the painful knowledge that his death was preventable.
Speaking through tears, Ofentse’s uncle, Lebo Maqekoane, said the tragedy has reopened wounds for families in the Vaal, where scholar transport accidents have claimed young lives before.
“This is one too many,” he said, describing a community shattered by a loss that should never have happened.
While Maqekoane praised SAPS members, traffic officers and emergency personnel for showing compassion under harrowing circumstances, he expressed deep hurt over how grieving families were treated at the crash scene.
He said relatives, were forced to wait for hours, some learning of their children’s deaths through social media, while politicians were granted access ahead of them.
“To stand there from the early hours, carrying shock and pain, watching others being ushered in while your child lies there, that is something I could not stomach. Politicians are parents too. They should have stood with us, not ahead of us,” Maqekoane said
He also shared memories Ofentse, stating that he was a vibrant, fearless child known and loved across Zone 14 and Zone 24 Sebokeng Vaal.
“He called me Papa Lebu. He was brave, playful, always curious. He left us with memories, photos, and a love we will carry forever.” Maqekoane recalled softly.
Beyond the grief, the family is demanding accountability. Maqekoane called for the abolition of the current scholar transport system, arguing that profit-driven operators overload vehicles and put children’s lives at risk. He questioned how parents are left with no alternative when schools are far from their communities, forcing them to entrust their children to unsafe transport.
“Our children deserve specialised permits, proper vehicles, and a system that values life over profit,” he said, urging government departments to listen to frontline officers who witness the dangers daily.
As the family mourns, the pain remains raw, especially for Ofentse’s mother and grandmother, who both lost a son. “We are still searching for peace,” Maqekoane said. “But we will honour Ofentse. We will never forget him.”
The Star