President Cyril Ramaphosa plans to issue an instruction for the Department of Basic Education to find ways to make scholar transport safer.

This is on the back of a tragic accident in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week that claimed the lives of 12 learners.

It’s understood that a minibus scholar transport vehicle was attempting to overtake on a narrow road when it collided with a truck.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Basic Education Lekgotla in Boksburg on Wednesday, Ramaphosa stressed the urgent need to improve scholar transport safety.

The Gauteng government said the driver involved in the fatal scholar transport crash was operating with an expired Professional Driving Permit (PDP).

Dashcam footage shows the minibus driving on the oncoming section of a narrow road before attempting to move aside, but it was struck by a truck.

Ramaphosa said he is deeply pained by the loss of the children’s lives in what appears to be a case of negligent driving.

“I am going to be directing the minister [of basic education] and [the] transport [department] to look at how we can save the lives of our children. Our children are the future, and they are the most prized possession that we have as a nation.”

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old driver of the scholar transport has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide and negligent driving.

*This article was first published by Eye Witness News