NUMSA blames poor government oversight for Vanderbijlpark scholar transport tragedy

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) attributed the death of 12 learners in a scholar transport crash this week to poor oversight by the government.

NUMSA said that the sector was not properly regulated and there was a lack of law enforcement.

On Monday, 12 children died when the taxi they were travelling in to school collided with a truck in Vanderbijlpark.

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The union also highlighted the country’s woeful road fatality statistics.

According to the Department of Transport, there were more than 11,000 fatalities on South African roads between January and December 2025.

NUMSA national spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the state must intervene.

"Thirteen children have lost their lives as a result of carelessness, and that cannot be something we just ignore. Strong action must be taken, not just against the driver, but the state must intervene to ensure that scholar transportation is highly regulated and that stringent requirements are put in place to limit the number of accidents that may occur," Hlubi-Majola said.

Hlubi-Majola said government needed to prioritise road safety.

"The deaths of these children cannot be in vain. We are tired of empty rhetoric on road safety. We demand action. We want to see consistent visible policing on the roads, and strong penalties must be enforced for those who do not obey the rule of law."