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[QUOTE="Queen, post: 84720, member: 27"]
Another utterly preventable tragedy with kids paying the price on dangerous roads. A head-on collision between a scholar transport minibus and a truck claimed thirteen young lives on Fred Drost Road. Emfuleni Local Municipality Mayor Sipho Radebe called the crash a stark symbol of national road safety failures, urging systemic reform to curb reckless driving and lax oversight.

The minibus attempted an overtake before hitting an oncoming side tipper truck. Investigations revealed the driver lacked a valid Professional Driving Permit, and the vehicle was overloaded. Eleven learners died at the scene, with two more succumbing later in the hospital. Two pupils remain in critical condition.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Education MEC Matome Chiloane visited the site, pledging support for grieving families. Psycho-social teams were dispatched to affected schools and homes. The crash has intensified scrutiny of private scholar transport operations, where pressure to meet schedules often compromises safety.

Authorities opened a culpable homicide case with thirteen counts. Mayor Radebe highlighted how systemic pressures force drivers into risky decisions. The incident underscores South Africa's severe road safety crisis, with thousands dying annually from similar preventable collisions. Calls grow for stricter vehicle checks, better road design, and reliable public transport alternatives for scholars.
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