The crash occurred while the pupils were being conveyed, leaving five others with critical injuries

Eleven schoolchildren have died after a minibus carrying pupils collided with a truck on Monday morning in Vanderbijlpark, an industrial city south of Johannesburg, South African media have reported.

The crash occurred while the pupils were being conveyed, leaving five others with critical injuries.

Public broadcaster South African Broadcasting Corporation said the injured pupils were rushed to hospital for urgent medical attention.

South Africa continues to grapple with a poor road safety record, despite ongoing efforts by the government to reduce traffic fatalities.

Official data released last week showed that 11,418 people died in road accidents across the country in 2025, representing about a six per cent drop compared with 2024.

The transport ministry has identified reckless driving, including speeding and drink-driving, as major contributors to road crashes.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said the tragedy underscored the need for tougher laws, adding that the government was considering scrapping the current legal alcohol limit in favour of a zero-tolerance policy.

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