Vaal scholar crash driver abandons bail as he appears in court over 14 learners’ deaths

Driver Ayanda Dludla makes first appearance in court after 14 learners’ death

The driver at the centre of the tragic Vaal scholar transport crash that claimed the lives of 14 learners has made his first court appearance.

Twenty-two-year-old Ayanda Dludla appeared on Thursday morning at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court, where he is facing multiple serious charges linked to the fatal accident.

These include 14 counts of culpable homicide, three counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of reckless and negligent driving and operating a vehicle without the required documentation.

Dludla, who was driving the minibus taxi transporting learners at the time of the crash, was arrested shortly after being discharged from hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the accident.

He is currently being represented by Legal Aid.

During proceedings, the court heard that Dludla has opted not to apply for bail.

As a result, he will remain behind bars while the case continues.

The matter has been postponed to 5 March 2026 for further proceedings, as families of the victims continue to mourn children who never returned home from school.

The devastating crash has intensified calls for improved road safety and stricter oversight of scholar transport services, as South Africans grapple with yet another reminder of the deadly consequences of reckless driving.

See video of his appearance in court below.

Vaal taxi driver appears in court over 14 learner deaths, abandons bail application

Twenty-two-year-old Ayanda Dludla appeared this morning in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court in connection with the deadly Vaal scholar transport crash that claimed 14 learners’ lives.… pic.twitter.com/jUjM36mHxp

— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) January 22, 2026