Grade R Learner Dies In Carletonville Scholar Bus Accident
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed the death of a 6-year-old Grade R learner from Letsatsing Primary Mine School in Carletonville after a scholar bus accident on Friday, 15 August 2025.
According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, the child was fatally injured while boarding the bus. “According to information at our disposal, the said learner allegedly sustained serious injuries from a scholar transport bus while she was boarding the bus on Friday morning to go to school,” he said.
The girl was rushed to Carletonville Hospital, where she sadly succumbed to her injuries later that afternoon. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Support for Grieving Grade R Learner’s Family and School
GDE officials visited the family on Sunday to extend condolences and confirmed that its Psycho-Social Support Unit will provide counselling to the bereaved family, learners, and staff at the school.
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane expressed sympathy: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and assure them of our full support during this difficult time.”
Addressing Ongoing School Infrastructure Challenges
Beyond the accident, the GDE also addressed concerns about infrastructure at schools in Theresa Park and Zuurbekom. Mabona confirmed that while applications for permanent water, electricity, and sanitation connections are still pending due to rezoning requirements, interim measures — including boreholes, generators, solar panels, and mobile ablution facilities — are in place.
Zuurbekom Primary has been converted into a combined school to address the absence of a standalone high school in the area. The school currently accommodates learners up to Grade 10, with Grade 11 set to be phased in by 2026.
In Randburg, the department clarified that it never authorised the sale of 3 Neale Crescent, and while the site was considered for a school, it is now earmarked for an Early Childhood Development Centre due to size and access limitations.
Mabona stressed the department’s commitment to both urgent incidents and long-term challenges: “The Gauteng Department of Education remains committed to transparency and accountability in addressing both urgent incidents and broader educational challenges. The department continues to prioritise learner safety, equitable access to education, and the provision of quality infrastructure across the province.”
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