By Charmaine Ndlela
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has elevated scholar transport safety to a top priority following a tragic incident on Monday in which fourteen learners lost their lives in the Vanderbijlpark area of the Vaal.
The provincial department emphasised that ensuring the safety and legal compliance of scholar transport vehicles is a collective responsibility.
“We have a collective responsibility to ensure that every scholar transport vehicle is safe and compliant,” the provincial department said.
Operators who fail to comply with Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act will face strict enforcement measures, including the possible loss of their operating licences.
The department warned that there will be no warnings or second chances.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has been leading scholar transport safety operations across the province.
These operations include inspections to ensure compliance with regulations, focusing on vehicle registration, overloading, driver adherence to traffic rules, and overall roadworthiness.
Non-compliant vehicles have been impounded.
Speaking to Inside Metros, Roads and Transport spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said a Scholar Transport Policy is currently under public consultation and review. A key focus of the policy, he said, is the introduction of advanced driver training for operators in the scholar transport sector.
Mpya added that the department plans to establish a comprehensive database of scholar transport operators in collaboration with the Department of Education.
“This will ensure operators comply with the law by having contracts with parents and approval from schools,” he said.
Another proposal under the policy is the installation of tracking devices in scholar transport vehicles. Mpya said these measures demonstrate the department’s commitment to making scholar transport safety a policy priority.
He also raised concern about persistent overloading in the sector. Scholar transport is regulated by both the National Land Transport Act and the National Road Traffic Act, which set clear operational guidelines.
Section 231 of the National Road Traffic Act outlines seating capacity based on age groups — 0 to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, and 6 to 13 years. Mpya noted that this provision is often misinterpreted or misused by operators to justify overloading.
Section 49 of the Act places responsibility squarely on operators to ensure full compliance with the law. Mpya stressed that operators must correctly interpret Section 231 and refrain from modifying vehicles to increase seating capacity unlawfully.
He said accountability must begin with operators themselves, in line with the MEC’s campaign, “It Starts With You.” The campaign, he emphasised, is not merely a slogan but a call for self-regulation before law enforcement intervention becomes necessary.
“Operators must hold themselves accountable first. That is how we will avoid overloading,” Mpya said.
He added that intensified law enforcement operations will continue to ensure proper checks and balances within the scholar transport sector.
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