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Driver Charged in Vanderbijlpark School Transport Crash That Killed 12 Learners

Investigators are scrutinizing overtaking, overloading and permit compliance after officials confirmed 12 deaths.

Overview

  • Police arrested the 22-year-old scholar transport driver after his hospital discharge, and he faces 12 counts of culpable homicide plus reckless and negligent driving.
  • Gauteng authorities confirmed the final death toll at 12 and said all victims have been identified following verification by hospitals and the forensic pathology service.
  • Preliminary accounts indicate the minibus attempted to overtake multiple vehicles before a head-on collision with a side-tipper truck on Fred Droste Road.
  • Police said the minibus was overloaded with 18 occupants, and several injured learners remain in hospital, with two reported in intensive care on Tuesday.
  • Provincial transport officials reported early findings of possible licensing irregularities, including a lack of required operating permits for the driver and vehicle, which remain under investigation.