The devastating Vanderbijlpark scholar transport collision that claimed the lives of 14 learners has taken a staggering and deeply unsettling turn. Official reports confirmed the death toll reached 14 following the passing of two more children in hospital, casting a darker shadow over a community already in mourning.
As families and school communities mourn the loss of young lives cut short, it has now emerged that the only survivors of the crash were the children of the minibus taxi owner himself.
In a tragedy that has shaken the Vaal region and the country at large, fate appears to have intervened unevenly — sparing one family while leaving many others shattered.
A Family Spared, a Community Broken
In an emotional account first reported by the Sunday Times, Jimmy Vinger — a pastor and deputy chair of Gauteng Education Transport Services — revealed a series of circumstances that ultimately saved his own children while others perished.
His son, Ayanda Dludla (22), was driving the minibus at the time of the crash. His school-going daughter was travelling as a passenger. They were the only two occupants who survived the collision.
Adding to the cruel irony, Vinger’s two younger daughters, who usually travel in the same taxi to school, were not on board that morning. One had been suspended from school, while the other chose to stay home — decisions that unknowingly spared their lives.
A Death Toll That Continued to Rise
This latest revelation comes amid an already dark week for the region. The tragedy deepened when two more Grade 12 learners later succumbed to their injuries, pushing the death toll to 14.
👉 Read more: Matric dreams cut short: Two more Grade 12 learners die in Vaal transport crash
Each update has compounded the grief — turning what began as a single morning commute into one of the most harrowing scholar transport disasters in recent memory.
Recklessness Under the Microscope
Despite Vinger describing his son as a “good boy” and “humble,” Dludla now faces 14 counts of murder, along with charges related to reckless and negligent driving.
Investigations have revealed that the minibus was allegedly unlicensed, and Dludla was reportedly driving without a valid driver’s licence.
Dashcam footage, now central to the case, shows the minibus overtaking several vehicles at speed before colliding head-on with an oncoming truck — a sequence unpacked in detail in NOWinSA’s investigative feature:
👉 Recklessness and heartbreak: Inside the Vaal scholar transport tragedy
Authorities say the footage raises troubling questions about road discipline, enforcement failures, and long-standing gaps in the regulation of private scholar transport.
Faith, Forgiveness and Unanswered Questions
As Vinger publicly grapples with grief, guilt, and faith — asking for forgiveness while defending his son — many bereaved families are left wrestling with anger, disbelief, and a sense of betrayal.
For parents who entrusted their children to what they believed was a safe, familiar transport service, the revelation that the owner’s own children survived has only deepened the pain.
Schools Reeling, Support Mobilised
Beyond the courtroom and the headlines, the tragedy continues to ripple through classrooms and playgrounds across the Vaal.
Schools linked to the victims remain in a state of shock, struggling to support learners forced to confront loss at an age when life should still feel full of promise. In response, the Department of Basic Education has confirmed that psycho-social support teams will be deployed to assist affected learners and educators.
👉 Trauma counsellors deployed to 7 Vaal schools after transport tragedy
Experts warn that without sustained trauma counselling, the emotional scars left by such a disaster can linger long after the funerals end.
A Tragedy That Refuses to Fade
As investigations continue, one truth remains unavoidable: this was not just an accident — it was a convergence of risk, neglect, and fate.
For the families who buried their children, justice feels painfully abstract. For the wider public, the question is stark: how many warnings must be written in blood before meaningful change arrives?
🕯️ Timeline of Coverage
The Vaal Transport Tragedy: Full Coverage
- Monday: Recklessness and heartbreak: Inside the Vaal scholar transport tragedy
- Tuesday: Trauma counsellors deployed to 7 Vaal schools after transport tragedy
- Friday: Matric dreams cut short: Two more Grade 12 learners die in Vaal transport crash
- Today: A bizarre twist reveals that only the taxi owner’s children survived
NOWinSA — Stories Shaping South Africa Today
