Panyaza Lesufi Calls for Collaboration to Improve Education System at Funeral of Vaal Crash Victims
- Panyaza Lesufi addressed mourners at the funeral of three victims killed in the fatal crash near Vanderbijlpark
- The Gauteng Premier called for collaboration to fix the country’s education system in the wake of the tragedy
- Gauteng Education Member of the Executive Committee (MEC), Matome Chiloane, praised the compassion shown by citizens
Source: Original
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – Panyaza Lesufi has called for collaboration to fix the country’s education system.
The Premier of Gauteng made the appeal at the funeral of three learners killed in a fatal accident near Vanderbijlpark. Thato Moetji, Ofentse Vinger and Bokamoso Mokhobo were laid to rest on Sunday, 25 January 2026, with their funeral service held at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Complex in Sebokeng, Emfuleni.
Fourteen learners lost their lives in total in the accident when a minibus taxi, attempting to overtake several vehicles, collided with a side tipper truck on 19 January 2026. Ayanda Dludla (22), the driver of the vehicle, was charged with 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
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Premier says education system needs to be fixed
Speaking at the funeral, Lesufi noted that many wanted the scholar transport system to be fixed. He noted that while this is important, the education system itself needed to be looked at.
The Premier said that it could not be the case that education was better at one school compared to others. He added that there could be a situation where the education system was not providing quality across the province.
“I come to you on behalf of the Gauteng government. I come to you on behalf of the school governing bodies. I come to you on behalf of our teachers and learners. All of us must fix our schools so that our children can be better in every part of our society,” he said.
Lesufi addresses the transport system
Lesufi then addressed the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, who was also in attendance. The Premier said that South Africans could not have a situation where, instead of giving children graduation certificates, they were receiving death certificates.
“We cannot have a system where a road to school leads our children to graveyards. This must come to an end.
“And to have this come to an end, it means all of us must work together.”
Source: Getty Images
Matome Chiloane praises the compassion of citizens
Lesufi’s speech was preceded by Gauteng Education Member of the Executive Committee (MEC), Matome Chiloane, who said that the Vaal community showed the country how to transform tragedy into a call for change.
Chiloane said that across the various funeral services, South Africans had witnessed ubuntu in its purest form.
“For us as Africans, when tragedy strikes, it always reveals who we are. Gauteng, and the Vaal people in particular, showed themselves to be people of compassion, of solidarity, of deep human kindness,” he said.
Taxi owner opens up on son's role in fatal crash
Briefly News reported that the owner of the minibus taxi involved in the Vaal crash spoke about his son's role in the incident.
Jimmy Vinger, Ayanda's father, recalled the moment he found out what happened and how he had to tell the parents.
Vinger's son and daughter were both in the taxi and survived the fatal crash, which left 14 students dead.
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Source: Briefly News
