14 Pupils Dead, But Taxi Owner’s 4 Children Survive School Run Accident: Vanderbijlpark’s Bizarre Twist

Bizarre Fate: Taxi Owner’s 4 Children Survive Crash That Killed 14 Pupils

In a tragic and bizarre twist, all four children of the owner of a minibus taxi survived the horrific crash in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, which claimed the lives of 14 school pupils. While two of his children were in the vehicle and lived, his two other daughters, who usually travel in the same taxi, were not on board the fateful morning. The collision has left families shattered and a community searching for answers after a routine school run ended in devastation.

The scale of the loss and the strange fortune of the owner’s family has drawn attention across the region, including in Zimbabwe.

A Family Spared Amidst Widespread Grief

The Sunday Times reports that the minibus taxi was owned by Jimmy Vinger, whose four children narrowly escaped death on the day of the crash. His 22-year-old son, Ayanda Dludla, was driving the vehicle. Vinger’s school-age daughter was also a passenger. Both survived.

His two younger daughters, who regularly take the taxi to school, did not travel that day. One had been suspended from school, while the other chose to remain at home.

In an emotional interview, Vinger described the moments after the crash

“He phoned me just after it happened. He sounded confused. He was crying,” Vinger said.

Vinger stated he then informed the parents of the other children via a WhatsApp voice note. He recounted seeing his son at the crash scene.

“When I saw him at the scene, he looked like he had lost his mind. He was crying nonstop and apologising to me, saying, ‘I know you wanted to build a good future.’”

Ayanda Dludla has been charged with 14 counts of culpable homicide, attempted murder, driving without a valid licence, and operating an unlicensed vehicle. He has not applied for bail.

Expert Analysis Points To Driver Panic

Dashcam footage from the incident shows the minibus taxi overtaking multiple vehicles before a head-on collision with an oncoming truck. Accident reconstruction expert Craig Proctor-Parker analysed the footage.

“At 21 seconds into the video footage … you can see the minibus taxi is already on the wrong side of the road,” Proctor-Parker stated.

He emphasised that both drivers had significant time to react.

“Both the minibus and the truck can already see each other. That’s a long time. You’ve got enough time to see someone ahead of you, perceive them, and slow down and return to your side of the road.”

Proctor-Parker noted that a taxi ahead had moved left, providing an escape route.

“The question is why the minibus taxi driver did not move back to the left when the other taxi gave him space to move back. He had an escape route. I would suggest he probably panicked.”

A Community’s Trust Shattered By Loss

The grief is profound for families like that of Mamokete Sefatsa, who lost her 18-year-old son, Phehello Motaung, and her seven-year-old grandson, Lesego Sefatsa. They were laid to rest on Saturday.

Sefatsa had trusted Vinger, who is a pastor at her local church in Sebokeng.

“The owner [of the minibus] is a pastor at our church, [and] we trusted him. We would even call him Papa Jimmy. I’m disappointed in him,” she said.

She shared a poignant voice note from her son sent during the December holidays.

“He said, ‘Mama, next year I’m going to get married and buy a big house on a hill, and I will make sure it has escalators so that you don’t struggle to go upstairs.’”

Jimmy Vinger, grappling with his own anguish, expressed his turmoil.

“May they forgive me. I can’t sleep. I’m not OK,” he said, while also acknowledging community support. “People love me. My neighbours have been coming around to comfort me.”

For other parents, like Lesego’s father Chris Masenya, the legal outcome holds little solace, calling the incident “full-blown, gross negligence.”