09 Jul 2026

Kgosi Martin Puleng of Dutlwe still remembers November 13, 2015, the day a government truck carrying more than 100 Matsha College learners from Kang overturned near his village, killing nine pupils. 

“I remember we were attending another funeral in the village when we received the sad news of the accident. Immediately, we all left to attend to the scene and asked people to use their vehicles to help transport the children to the nearest clinic,” he said in an interview.

Kgosi Puleng said the scene was heartbreaking, with learners in pain and suffering from various degrees of injury.

He said the day continues to bring painful memories of the impact the tragedy had on families and friends.

“There is nothing as sad as losing a child at a young age when you are expecting a better future for them. The Matsha College accident shall forever remain etched in our hearts as a tragic incident that stole the lives of our children and left many with permanent scars that cannot be erased,” he said.

Kgosi Puleng said he was grateful that medical staff responded swiftly to the accident and that residents also played a major role in helping the injured.

He said those who witnessed the crash would never forget the scene or the atmosphere that followed.

Speaking with visible sadness, Kgosi Puleng said he was relieved that some learners survived, adding that this was one of the few things that brought him comfort.

However, he said the families who lost their children would need time to heal, as the day continues to bring painful memories.

Kgosi Puleng said his village lost one learner, while a few others survived and had since continued to rebuild their lives.

He said many people were emotionally affected by the tragedy and it took time for them to recover.

Kgosi Puleng said transporting learners in trucks or open vehicles had always been a ticking time bomb.

He said he was glad that after the accident, learners began to be transported in buses instead of trucks, although it took some time before the change was made.

One of the parents, who lost a daughter in the accident, Ms Tebatso Tsogwane of Takatokwane, was overcome with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes and she struggled to speak.

Trying to gather strength between tears and sobs, she said, “Why are you coming to me after 11 years of the accident? Are you not torturing me again with the loss of my child?”

Ms Tsogwane said her daughter was a good child and that she had expected a great future from her, but she was now gone.

As the firstborn in the family, much had been expected of her, and her death under such circumstances has remained deeply painful.

She said reliving the memories was distressing and that she needed continuous counselling because thoughts of her daughter still sadden her.

Another guardian, Ms Tshediso Seokojane, the sister of another survivor from Dutlwe, said she had raised her younger sister from a young age and described her as a good child.

She said the accident left her sister shattered and that her life has never been the same since.

Ms Seokojane added that the injury also changed her sister’s mental state.

“She was a child who took life seriously, but ever since the injury, she is just there and does not care much about life,” she said.

She said this saddens the family because they no longer expect much from her, as she is now living life on her own terms. ENDS