DELMAS — A Grade 4 learner from Swartklip Combined School has died after being struck by a vehicle, as concerns over scholar transport and safe access to schools continue to be raised in communities around Delmas.
The learner, identified by the Mpumalanga Department of Education as Thabiso Mtsweni, died on Thursday, 17 September, after sustaining injuries in the accident.
According to a joint statement by the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, Mtsweni was in the vicinity of his designated learner transport route when the incident occurred.
The statement said the learner attempted to cross the road and was struck by an oncoming vehicle.
He was rushed to hospital for urgent medical treatment but later died.
The departments said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to the relevant investigative processes.
Transport concerns
Mtsweni’s death comes 14 days after learners and community members in Vukuzenzele, Delmas, took to the streets on 03 September 2026 over alleged failures in the scholar transport service serving the area and surrounding rural communities.
The Vukuzenzele protest centred on learners travelling to Swartklip Combined School, with protesters alleging that some learners had been left behind, buses were not serving parts of their designated routes and additional transport was needed.
An SGB member, who spoke to the Highveld Chronicle on condition of anonymity because he feared possible repercussions, said parents had been paying R100 per child for transport since 2021.
“Since 2021, we have been paying R100 for the buses, but we still have a problem getting the children from Ematshotshobheni onto them,” he said.
The SGB member said the community had previously asked the principal to approach the department for an additional bus for learners from Ematshotshobheni.
He alleged that although the principal indicated he would try to secure additional transport, no extra bus had been provided.
Parents also raised concerns about transport serving communities including Big Mgqalano, Small Mgqalano, Bhodli, Nyawana, Mavedasini, Mazanganeni and Rocks.
A parent from Rocks told the Highveld Chronicle that a bus had arrived late the previous day and failed to enter the area the following morning.
“We have a serious problem with this bus. It did not come into the Rocks at all this morning,” the parent said.
The community also raised concerns about access to the school, with young people and learners calling for a safe, permanent bridge. Residents said learners faced long walks and unsafe conditions, including muddy or flooded areas and an unsafe crossing.
On Friday, 04 September, the publication was informed that learners had travelled to school using scholar transport buses.
It was not immediately clear whether this represented a permanent resolution.
Waaikraal protest
On 09 September, the Waaikraal community took to the streets over similar concerns.
The community said the existing learner transport service was transporting learners attending Phaphamani Secondary School, while learners attending Swartklip Combined School, Botleng Secondary School and Mafa Max Motloug Secondary School were allegedly being left without adequate transport.
Waaikraal community secretary Sibonelo Mwelase said the protest was driven by concerns over learners being left stranded and the need for transport to serve all affected schools.
“The community has been raising this issue because our children are being left behind. We are calling for an urgent and equitable solution so that every learner who depends on scholar transport can get to school safely,” Mwelase said.
The protests in Vukuzenzele and Waaikraal placed scholar transport and safe access to schools at the centre of community concerns in the weeks before Mtsweni’s death.
Department responds
In their statement following Mtsweni’s death, the provincial departments conveyed their condolences to the learner’s family, fellow learners, educators and the broader Swartklip Combined School community.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of young Thabiso Mtsweni. No family should have to endure the pain of losing a child under such tragic circumstances,” the departments said.
The departments said officials were providing support to the family and school and would continue to offer psychosocial and emotional assistance.
They also called on all road users and stakeholders involved in learner transport to exercise the highest level of caution and vigilance to ensure the safety of learners.
The Highveld Chronicle sent questions to the Mpumalanga Department of Education regarding the scholar transport concerns raised in Vukuzenzele and Waaikraal, including route coverage, learners allegedly being left behind and requests for additional buses. The department had not responded by the time of publication.
