The SANAC Civil Society Forum Children’s Sector has expressed deep sorrow and outrage following a tragic scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark on 19 January 2026 that claimed the lives of 12 children on their way to school. The Sector conveyed its condolences to the affected families and communities, emphasizing that the incident represents a devastating and preventable loss of young lives.
The Children’s Sector highlighted the profound breach of trust involved in the tragedy, noting that children entered the vehicle relying on adults to ensure their safety. While road accidents may not be intentional, the Sector stressed that negligent and reckless driving makes such incidents difficult for families and communities to accept or forgive. The loss underscores the vulnerability of children who depend entirely on adults for protection.
According to the Sector, the incident reflects a broader pattern of systemic failure, weak accountability, and neglect within institutions responsible for safeguarding children. It emphasized that this was not an isolated accident but a stark reminder of how structures meant to protect children continue to fall short of their responsibilities.
The Children’s Sector raised serious concerns about the role of scholar transport systems, questioning how a negligent driver was permitted to transport children. It stressed that children must never be treated as cargo and that any negligence within scholar transport arrangements constitutes a direct violation of children’s right to safety. The Sector underscored the importance of proper vetting and oversight of drivers entrusted with children’s daily transportation.
The Department of Education was also urged to address the ongoing shortage of accessible, quality schools within communities. The Sector questioned why children are forced to travel long distances for basic education, exposing them to avoidable dangers, and emphasized that access to education should never come at the cost of children’s lives.
The Sector further held government accountable for inadequate regulation and enforcement of scholar transport systems. It raised concerns over unresolved issues surrounding vehicle overloading, driver clearance, and safety compliance, describing the continued operation of poorly regulated transport services as unacceptable.
In response to the tragedy, the Children’s Sector called for decisive action, including a transparent and expedited investigation, strict enforcement of safety regulations, accountability for all responsible parties, immediate vetting of all drivers transporting children, and coordinated interventions to prevent further loss of life. The statement concluded by reaffirming that children have an inherent right to travel to school safely and that failure to protect this right constitutes a violation of their fundamental dignity and safety.
