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Circumstances surrounding the crash are unclear

Thirteen school pupils have died in South Africa after the minibus they were travelling in collided with a lorry south of the city of Johannesburg.

The crash happened on Monday morning at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) in Vanderbijlpark, the local education authority said.

Eleven students died at the scene, while two succumbed to their injuries later on. Two other pupils remains in critical condition.

The minibus driver crashed into the lorry after attempting to overtake two vehicles, police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said.

Masondo added that a case of culpable homicide would be opened.

The minibus driver was “reportedly” being treated in hospital, Gauteng province’s department of education said, while the details of what happened to the lorry driver were “uncertain”.

Fatal road collisions are common in South Africa, due to factors such as rampant speeding, reckless driving and poorly maintained vehicles.

In 2025, 11,418 people died in crashes – about 6% lower than a year earlier but still equivalent to an average of 31 deaths a day.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called Monday’s crash “distressing”.

“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets and we must do all we can – from observing the rules of the road to the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars – to protect learners,” the president added.