Vaal scholar crash: Driver now faces 14 murder charges

A 22-year-old minibus driver linked to the Vanderbijlpark scholar transport crash has been charged with 14 counts of murder after two more pupils died in hospital, taking the death toll to 14.

The driver appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court south Africa on Thursday, where he abandoned his bail application. The case was postponed to 5 March for further proceedings as reported by eNCA.

Police said the two additional learners died in hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning. Their deaths brought the total number of fatalities in the crash to 14.

The crash happened on Monday morning near Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng as pupils were travelling to school. Initial reports in the days after the collision varied as authorities worked to verify casualties and identify victims, with some updates placing the toll at 12 before later deaths were confirmed.

Charges upgraded as investigation continues

Prosecutors initially enrolled the matter as culpable homicide, but the National Prosecuting Authority said the charges have since been changed to murder. The driver also faces three counts of attempted murder, alongside allegations of reckless and negligent driving.

Earlier police briefings following the crash had indicated the driver was facing multiple counts of culpable homicide, reflecting the status of the case before Thursday’s charge upgrade.

Authorities have not yet provided full detail in court on the basis for the escalation from culpable homicide to murder, but investigators have indicated they are still probing the circumstances of the collision, including compliance issues linked to scholar transport operations.

Permit concerns and alleged overtaking

Officials have also raised concerns about the driver’s documentation at the time of the crash. The Citizen reported that Gauteng authorities established the driver’s professional driving permit had expired in November 2025.

In addition, investigators have said it is understood the driver was attempting to overtake other vehicles when the crash happened on Monday.

The South African Police Service has said investigations remain ongoing and that the driver will be questioned further as evidence is gathered.

Focus on compliance and scholar transport safety

The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of private scholar transport safety and oversight in Gauteng and beyond. Police previously confirmed the scholar transport vehicle involved in the crash was overloaded, carrying 18 people despite being certified for 14.

Authorities said compliance checks and enforcement actions have been stepped up in the aftermath. In a separate incident highlighted by East Coast Radio, Gauteng transport officials stopped another scholar transport vehicle in Centurion and found multiple alleged violations, including false number plates and a driver without a professional driving permit.

Preliminary report expected

A preliminary report by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) was expected on Thursday, 22 January, as investigators work to determine contributing factors and whether any traffic or operating licence requirements were breached.

For now, authorities say the Vanderbijlpark case remains a developing matter, with court proceedings continuing and further updates expected as investigations are finalised.

Source: eNCA.