The driver faces 12 counts of culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving. He was arrested on Tuesday (20/1) after he was discharged from the hospital.

Preliminary investigations revealed his professional driving permit (PDP) had expired in November.

On Monday (19/1), learners from various primary and secondary schools were travelling in a Toyota Quantum when the vehicle collided with a truck. Eleven learners died on the scene when the minibus that was transporting them to school collided with a side tipper truck, causing it to veer off the road on the R553.

Dash cam footage from the truck showed the minibus was in the oncoming lane with enough time and space to avoid the collision, but it failed to do so. To avoid the collision, the school transport can be seen trying to swerve right while the truck moves slightly left.

“Police investigations have since confirmed that the taxi driver’s PDP expired in November last year,” said Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi at a media briefing in the Sedibeng West district offices in Sebokeng on Tuesday.

“There were three drivers that were involved in this accident, including two in the truck and one in the taxi. The truck driver immediately took himself to the hospital after the incident, as he was not seriously injured.

The assistant truck driver and taxi driver were both hospitalised and later discharged.

A report on the incident is expected by the end of the week. Road Traffic Management Corporation investigators are investigating the incident.

Vaal Triangle police have confirmed the scholar transport vehicle involved in the accident was overloaded.

The department of education clarified that 12 children died in the scholar transport crash, but one of the deceased children has still not been identified.

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OFM News/Zenande Mpame cvs