--- title: "Six girl learners killed, dozens injured in Free State horror school bus crash outside Ventersburg" description: "Six pupils died and 48 others were injured when the school bus they were travelling in overturned outside Ventersburg, Free State on Tuesday afternoon." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "SCHOLAR TRANSPORT" author: "Bheki C. Simelane" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bhekicsimelane/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-02-07-six-girl-learners-killed-dozens-injured-in-free-state-horror-school-bus-crash-outside-ventersburg/" published: "2024-02-07T13:42:06" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 410 --- # Six girl learners killed, dozens injured in Free State horror school bus crash outside Ventersburg > Six pupils died and 48 others were injured when the school bus they were travelling in overturned outside Ventersburg, Free State on Tuesday afternoon. By Bheki C. Simelane · Published 7 February 2024, 15:42 SAST ## Key points - A tragic accident occurred when a bus carrying 58 pupils from Riebeeckstad High School flipped over after a wheel came loose, resulting in six deaths, critical injuries, and a lot of unanswered questions. - Tragedy strikes as a bus carrying 58 pupils from Riebeeckstad High School overturns on the R70 near Ventersburg. - Six pupils confirmed dead on the scene, with four critically injured, eight moderately injured, and 40 with minor injuries. - Injured pupils transported to various hospitals in Welkom, Virginia, and Senekal. - Free State Education Department monitoring progress of those admitted to hospital; cause of accident still under investigation. ## Content A group of 58 pupils from Riebeeckstad High School in Welkom were returning from an outdoor sports event in the Moolmanshoek Nature Reserve near Ficksburg and Rosendal when tragedy struck. It is believed that the driver of the bus transporting the schoolgirls lost control when a wheel loosened, causing the bus to overturn along the R70. According to the Free State provincial government, six pupils were confirmed dead on the scene and four others suffered critical injuries. Eight pupils sustained moderate injuries and 40 suffered minor injuries. ![Passengers' belongings strewn on the ground after the bus was righted in the aftermath of the Free State bus crash which killed six pupils. (Photo: Supplied)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/GVV9kNj_sOvdwh7cgYRCEFexL0c=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bheki-welkom-scholars1.jpg) *Passengers' belongings strewn on the ground after the bus was righted in the aftermath of the Free State bus crash which killed six pupils. (Photo: Supplied)* The injured pupils were transported to various hospitals in Welkom, Virginia and Senekal. Free State Emergency Services said 24 patients were admitted to Bongani Hospital, with 22 later discharged. One patient was transferred to Welkom Medi clinic, while one remains at Bongani Hospital with serious but stable injuries. A further 17 pupils were admitted to Medi Clinic in Welkom, where 15 were later discharged and two remained admitted. Itemoheng Hospital in Senekal admitted four pupils, two of whom were transferred to Dihlabeng Hospital. The other two were later discharged. The emergency services said the death toll remained at six, subject to further verification. “For parents who are seeking information about their children, we urge you to go to Bongani Hospital and Medi Clinic where arrangements have been made to provide updates and support or call the grade head,” Riebeeckstad High School announced in a statement on Tuesday. ![Free State Emergency Services attend to the scene of the Free State bus crash bus near Ventersburg, Free State. (Photo: Supplied)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/wV2jiDaXbsv_6rKBAdPAVuLOmp8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Bheki-welkom-scholars4.jpg) *Emergency services attend to the scene of the Free State bus crash bus near Ventersburg, Free State. (Photo: Supplied)* **Read more in Daily Maverick**: [Sixth child dies six weeks after horrific Mitchells Plain scholar transport crash](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-10-sixth-child-dies-six-weeks-after-horrific-mitchells-plain-scholar-transport-crash/) On Wednesday morning, MEC for Education in the Free State Makalo Mohale said that his department was monitoring the progress of those admitted to hospital. Mohale also disclosed that the bus was not rented but belonged to the school. Investigations were yet to reveal the cause of the accident, and also other essential details regarding the crash. “Currently, we are just aware that it lost its wheel and overturned. That’s all we know,” Mohale said. “Police are investigating culpable homicide and it’s still too early to hold anyone liable until it has proven as such by the outcome of investigations,” Free State Saps’ Brigadier Motantsi Mokhele told *Daily Maverick* on Wednesday afternoon. **DM**