North West scholar transport: SAHRC to release report on 'coffin' vehicles

A fresh tragedy has brought scholar transport safety into sharp focus after 11 pupils were killed and five others critically injured in an accident in the Vanderbijlpark area on Monday morning.

READ: At least 11 pupils die after scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark

These deaths came as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) prepared to release a report on long-standing safety and operational failures in scholar transport in the North West.

Scholar transport in the province has been characterised by serious safety and operational failures, including unroadworthy and unsafe vehicles, some of which have been described as “coffins”.

Commissioner Nomahlubi Khwinana said pupils had been exposed to accidents and academic disadvantages as a result of these failures.

"Unroadworthy and unsafe vehicles, some of which have been described by affected communities and stakeholders as coffins, are being used due to severe mechanical defects, expired licence discs, fuel leaks, and the absence of basic safety features," Khwinana said. "There is also chronic overloading, far exceeding approved passenger capacity, which significantly increases the risk of accidents and injuries."