Local officials said a minibus, similar to the one pictured, was transporting children to school when it was allegedly struck from behind, causing it to overturn and catch fire. Photo: Internet Source

The children came from two schools in Carletonville, situated around 78 kilometers (48 miles) west of Johannesburg, Gauteng Minister for Education Matome Chiloane said in a statement.

"I am profoundly saddened by this tragic event. The loss of our children is a devastating blow to our community," said Chiloane. 

The Gauteng Education Department said the vehicle carrying the children was allegedly struck from behind by a light pickup truck, causing the vehicle to overturn, where it then caught fire.

The ages of the children involved are not yet known, although the schools they attended typically enroll children between the ages of 6 to 13.

South Africa has well developed road infrastructure, but it also ranks among the world's worst for road safety.

South Africa's Automobile Association (AA) has previously referred  to the country's annual road fatality statistics as "a national crisis."

In figures the AA released last year, dealing with January 2022 to December 2022, 12,436 people died on the country's roads during that period.

That was only marginally lower than the 12,541 people who died during the same period in 2021.

In March, a bus transporting worshippers to an Easter weekend event, plunged off a bridge, killing 45 people.