---
title: "Gauteng police open culpable homicide case after 12 pupils killed in horror Fochville crash"
description: "Gauteng police have confirmed they are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a horror accident that claimed the lives of 12 pupils and their transport driver in Fochville on Wednesday morning."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "SCHOLAR TRANSPORT TRAGEDY"
author: "Michelle Banda"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/michelle-banda/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-07-10-fochville-crash-culpable-homicide-probe-after-12-pupils-killed/"
published: "2024-07-10T15:41:29"
updated: "2024-07-10T15:41:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 362
---

# Gauteng police open culpable homicide case after 12 pupils killed in horror Fochville crash

> Gauteng police have confirmed they are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a horror accident that claimed the lives of 12 pupils and their transport driver in Fochville on Wednesday morning.

By Michelle Banda · Published 10 July 2024, 17:41 SAST · Updated 10 July 2024, 17:41 SAST

## Key points
- Gauteng police have confirmed they are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a horror accident that claimed the lives of 12 pupils and their transport driver in Fochville on Wednesday morning.
- Police confirm 13 fatalities in tragic accident involving school children and bakkie on Blyvoor Road near N12 highway in Wedela area.
- Pupils from Rocklands and Blyvooruitzicht primary schools among the victims; 7 learners and bakkie driver hospitalized.
- DA calls for review of scholar transport policy following recent accidents, including one in Alexandra involving Sandringham High School pupils.
- Gauteng Education MEC expresses sadness over incident, offers condolences and dispatches support team to affected schools and families.

## Content

Police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said SAPS Crime Scene Management, including the Accident Unit, responded to the accident which occurred at about 7am on Blyvoor Road, near the N12 highway, in the Wedela area.

“The accident was between a Ford Ranger bakkie and a minibus carrying school children. At this stage we can confirm that 13 people, the minibus driver and 12 learners, have died and seven learners are in hospital as well as the driver of the bakkie.”

Muridili said the pupils were being transported to the Rocklands and Blyvooruitzicht primary schools in Blyvooruitzicht.

The police were investigating a case of culpable homicide.

The cause of the accident remained unknown.

The crash follows [demands](https://dagauteng.org.za/2024/03/da-demands-gauteng-scholar-transport-policy-to-be-reviewed-to-ensure-the-safety-of-learners) by the DA in Gauteng for a review of the scholar transport policy to ensure pupils’ safety. In March 2024, the party urged Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane and the province’s MEC for roads and transport, Kedibone Diale Tlabela, to take action. This followed an accident in Alexandra, in which a scholar transport vehicle carrying Sandringham High School pupils collided with another vehicle. Six sustained minor injuries, including one pupil with a broken leg.

In the wake of the incident, the DA’s Gauteng shadow MEC for education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos, urged the provincial education department to work with the investigative authorities to determine the facts of the tragedy and bring the case to a conclusion.

Chiloane said on Wednesday he is saddened by the incident.

“The loss of our children is a blow to our community and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased and injured learners. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and both schools’ entire community.”

Chiloane added that the department has dispatched its psychosocial support team to provide immediate support to the schools and families. **DM**

> MEDIA STATEMENT
>
> MEC [@matomekopano](https://twitter.com/matomekopano?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is deeply saddened to confirm an incident that occurred this morning 11 learners from Rocklands Primary School and 1 learner from Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville, along with their driver, lost their lives in a devastating accident. [pic.twitter.com/YNksxRWlos](https://t.co/YNksxRWlos)
>
> — Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) [July 10, 2024](https://twitter.com/EducationGP1/status/1810967464383074306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

*This is still a developing story*.