Laerskool Kathu Sports Coach Martin van Schalkwyk Dies After June Bus Crash Injuries
- Martin van Schalkwyk Sr., a long-serving teacher and sports coach at Laerskool Kathu, passed away nearly two months after a serious school bus crash
- The coach had been recovering at home from severe leg and knee injuries when he was hospitalised with blood clots in his lungs
- Van Schalkwyk's death comes weeks before his son and daughter-in-law were due to welcome their first child, a milestone he had hoped to celebrate
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Laerskool Kathu has lost a second staff member connected to the fatal school bus crash of 13 June, after sports coach and deputy principal Martin van Schalkwyk Sr. died nearly two months after sustaining serious injuries in the collision.
Source: Facebook
Van Schalkwyk was driving the school bus back from a sports event in Kuruman when it struck a stationary truck on the N14 outside Kathu at approximately 07:20. Netball coach Ilze Posthumus, 30, was killed in the crash, and Van Schalkwyk, along with three other staff members, suffered significant injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in Kimberley, where surgeons operated on severe damage to his legs and knees.
A recovery cut short
After being discharged, Van Schalkwyk continued his rehabilitation at home with the assistance of a physiotherapist. His son, Martin Jr., confirmed that his father had made enough progress to walk using crutches, having graduated from a walking frame. However, he later fell ill and consulted his GP in Kathu.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
An ECG prompted a referral for further tests, and he was admitted to hospital on Tuesday, where blood clots were discovered in his lungs. The family has not been able to confirm whether the clots were directly linked to the June accident.
Van Schalkwyk joined Laerskool Kathu as deputy principal in 2008 and taught Grade 7 natural sciences. Outside the classroom, he coached rugby and cricket and participated in a wide range of extracurricular activities over many years.
An old big bear with a soft heart
Colleague and friend Nicolaas Zaayman described Van Schalkwyk as someone whose influence extended well beyond his formal duties.
"Martin was much more than just a teacher. He could coach cricket and rugby, play chess, and even sing beautifully," Zaayman said.
He added that Van Schalkwyk had a genuine and caring bond with his learners and was particularly respected as a science teacher.
"He was a big man, an old big bear with a soft heart," Zaayman said.
The loss carries additional weight for the family because Van Schalkwyk had been eagerly anticipating the birth of his grandchild. Martin Jr. and his wife Melissa are expecting a baby girl on 23 September, and according to his son, meeting his grandchild had become a central motivation throughout his recovery. He had hoped to be well enough to travel with his wife in December to welcome the new arrival.
The school has extended its condolences to Van Schalkwyk's family, colleagues, learners, and the broader school community.
As seen in the Facebook post below.
Hoërskool Patriot mourns the death of netball star
Briefly News previously reported that a netball schoolgirl from Mpumalanga, Promise Sithole, has been remembered by her school and peers following her heartbreaking death on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
Her death leaves many parents worried about the number of school students who have passed away in recent memory.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
