Dear Families, School Communities, and all affected by this tragic loss,

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It is with profound sorrow and deep sadness that I, together with the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg, extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, loved ones, and school communities of the thirteen children who lost their lives in the tragic accident involving a scholar transport taxi and a truck in Vanderbijlpark, within the Vaal Deanery.

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The loss of young lives in such sudden and painful circumstances wounds our hearts and shakes us to the core. Children are a precious gift from God, bearers of hope, promise, and joy. To have their lives cut short in this way is a grief beyond words, and we can only bow in humility before the mystery of such suffering.

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To the families who mourn their beloved children: please know that the Church grieves with you. We hold you close in our prayers, asking the Lord to grant you strength in your sorrow, comfort in your pain, and the assurance that your children now rest in the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father. “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; He saves those whose spirit is crushed” (Psalm 34:18).

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To the school communities that have lost learners, friends, and classmates: we share in your mourning. The empty desks and silenced laughter are a heavy burden to bear. May God grant educators, learners, and staff the grace to support one another and to find hope, even amid deep sadness.

We also remember in prayer all who were injured, those who witnessed the accident, and the emergency personnel who responded with courage and compassion.

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One of the children lost was a member of our Catholic family, belonging to a parish in the Vaal Deanery. This loss is felt deeply within our Archdiocese, and we entrust this child, and all the departed, to the infinite mercy of God.

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May Christ, who said, “Let the little children come to me,” receive these young souls into His eternal peace. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Sorrows, intercede for all who mourn, and may God’s gentle presence bring healing to broken hearts.

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Be assured of our prayers, solidarity, and pastoral support during this time of mourning.

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With every assurance of my prayers and condolences,

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 + Stephen Cardinal Brislin 
Archbishop of Johannesburg 
20 January 2026