The death toll from a school bus crash in South Africa’s Gauteng province has risen to 14 after two teenage girls died from their injuries, authorities confirmed on 22 January 2026. The driver of the minibus involved has been charged with multiple counts of murder.
The crash occurred early Monday morning on 19 January 2026 when a private minibus transporting 16 students to various primary and high schools south of Johannesburg collided with a truck at around 7 a.m. Twelve children were killed at the scene.
Seven people were injured in the collision, including five students, the bus driver, and a passenger from the truck. Three of the injured have since been discharged from hospital.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health, one of the students — a teenage girl who had been in intensive care at Sebokeng Hospital — died on Thursday morning on
22 January 2026. Police spokesperson Lt. Col. Mavela Masondo said another female student later died at a private hospital. Two students remain hospitalized.
The minibus driver, identified as 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, was initially expected to face several charges of culpable homicide.
However, the National Prosecuting Authority announced on Thursday that the charges had been upgraded to 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of driving without a professional license.
Dludla appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, where he declined to apply for bail. The case was postponed to March 5 to allow for further investigations.
Death Toll in South Africa School Bus Crash Rises to 14 as Driver Faces Murder Charges
