By Everson Luhanga
- 22 learners were found packed into a seven seater taxi in Polokwane after the driver ran away from officers.
- 12 learners died near Vanderbijlpark after a school taxi crashed, followed by another crash injuring children in Ekurhuleni.
Learners travelling to school continue to face serious danger on South Africa’s roads, with unsafe transport incidents happening just days apart.
In Polokwane, traffic officers found 22 learners packed into a seven seater taxi in the Ladanna area. When the driver spotted officers, he abandoned the vehicle and ran away, leaving the children behind.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety condemned the incident. Officials said overloading learner transport puts children’s lives at risk and cannot be tolerated.
The department said it will keep working with law enforcement to act against drivers who break the law. Officials also urged parents and transport operators to take responsibility for learner safety.
Members of the public were asked to report unsafe vehicles to authorities.
The Polokwane incident came only two days after a deadly crash near Vanderbijlpark. 12 learners died after a scholar transport vehicle crashed on Monday morning, 19 January 2026.
The learners were on their way to school when a taxi collided with a side tipper truck on the R553 behind ArcelorMittal near Vanderbijlpark. Several other children were injured.
Another crash followed on Tuesday morning, 20 January, in Elspark, Ekurhuleni. A scholar transport vehicle carrying nine learners from different schools collided with a light Volkswagen sedan on Kingfisher Avenue.
Three children suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene before being taken to a nearby medical facility by private ambulance. Six children were not injured. Both drivers were unharmed.
Emergency services responded at 7.31am. Teams from Wadeville and Vosloorus fire stations found no one trapped inside the vehicles.
Pictured above: A scholar transport vehicle involved in a road safety incident in Limpopo.
Image source: Supplied
