Three children and the driver of a school transport vehicle were killed on Thursday afternoon when it collided head-on with a truck on the R59 between Sasolburg and Vaalpark.

Police said the crash happened at about 3:15pm. The driver, a 60-year-old man, and three children, a girl and two boys aged between six and nine, were declared dead at the scene. Several other children were injured.

Developing story. Police have not named the victims or confirmed the cause of the crash.

What happened on the R59

A Volkswagen Caravelle described as a school transport vehicle was travelling from Vaalpark towards Sasolburg when it collided head-on with a Mercedes-Benz truck heading towards Vereeniging, according to police.

The Caravelle's 60-year-old male driver, a girl and two boys aged between six and nine were declared dead at the scene.

One injured boy was airlifted to hospital in Alberton. Three other children with serious injuries were taken to local hospitals. Police have not said how many children were in the vehicle in total or how many were hurt.

The truck driver survived. Reports do not say whether he was injured.

Police investigation

Police attended the scene and opened a case of culpable homicide at Sasolburg police station. "The circumstances surrounding the collision are still under investigation," police said, as reported.

The cause has not been determined. Police have not said which vehicle crossed into the other's lane, whether speed or road conditions played a part, or whether the school transport operator was licensed. Until the investigation is complete, no one has been blamed for the crash.

The victims and the truck driver have not been named. The Caravelle's operator and the school the children attended have also not been identified in the reports we reviewed.

Context: January's Vaal school transport crash

The crash comes less than nine months after 13 learners were killed in a school transport crash in the Vaal on 19 January, according to reports at the time, though one caption put the number at 12. In that case, preliminary reports said the driver allegedly tried to overtake several vehicles before colliding head-on with a truck. Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the driver had been reprimanded the previous week for reckless driving. The two crashes have not been linked, and the cause of Thursday's collision is not yet known.

After the January crash, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged action on road rules and on the quality and accountability of scholar transport operators. Police urged parents and schools to ensure learner transport vehicles are roadworthy and driven by qualified, responsible drivers.

What we do not yet know

  • What caused the collision and which vehicle left its lane.
  • How many children were in the Caravelle and how many were injured.
  • The condition of the injured children, including the boy airlifted to Alberton.
  • Who operated the vehicle and which school the children attended.