PRETORIA, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed deep sorrow following a wave of deadly violence on the Cape Flats and a tragic road crash involving a scholar transport vehicle, incidents that claimed at least 37 lives over the weekend and on Monday, January 19.
In a statement issued by the Presidency, Ramaphosa said he was saddened by the loss of 26 people who died in violent incidents across the Cape Flats within a 24-hour period, as well as the deaths of 11 learners who were killed when their school transport vehicle collided with a truck near Vanderbijlpark on Monday morning.
The President conveyed his condolences to the affected families and communities, noting that the government would work closely with citizens and community-based organisations to protect lives and restore safety.
“With reference to the Western Cape tragedies, communities can expect stronger law enforcement and increased police visibility to stabilise affected areas and reduce the potential for further violence,” Ramaphosa said.
He acknowledged the fear and insecurity faced by residents in gang-affected areas, urging communities to strengthen cooperation with law enforcement through community policing forums.
Ramaphosa called on residents to share information with police, including information involving neighbours or family members, to ensure communities become unsafe for criminals rather than law-abiding citizens.
According to the Presidency, sustained cooperation between communities and the South African Police Service (SAPS) has already yielded results, with police arresting 100 gang leaders and 106 runners over the past three months.
The President said the government is pursuing a dual approach, combining immediate security interventions with longer-term socio-economic measures aimed at addressing the root causes of violence, including poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
“Our efforts balance short-term actions to prevent and respond to violence with long-term interventions to improve social conditions and living standards,” Ramaphosa said.
Turning to the scholar transport tragedy near Vanderbijlpark, Ramaphosa said the incident was particularly distressing as it occurred on the same day the South African Human Rights Commission released a report on scholar transport in the North West province.
“Our children are the nation’s most precious assets, and we must do all we can – from observing the rules of the road to ensuring the quality of service providers appointed to transport scholars – to protect learners,” he said.
The President said national and provincial authorities would provide psychosocial support to the affected families, schools, teachers, and classmates as they come to terms with the loss.
The learner transport crash has renewed scrutiny on road safety and the regulation of scholar transport services in South Africa, an issue that has drawn repeated concern from human rights bodies and road safety advocates.
Authorities are expected to conduct investigations into both the circumstances surrounding the Cape Flats violence and the cause of the fatal collision, as pressure mounts on the government to strengthen public safety measures and accountability.
