The continued delay in enforcing scholar transport regulations is putting learners’ safety and well-being at serious risk.
Recently, a scholar transport vehicle carrying 17 learners was involved in an accident on the N4 near Attridgeville in Tshwane while reportedly fleeing police. This near-tragic incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of transport regulations to protect learners on their daily commutes.
It is devastating that after all that has happened in the Vanderbijlpark crash, we still have scholar transport cars that are unroadworthy, drivers without licenses and permits, and in many cases, such as this one, overloaded vehicles.
The latest incident reinforces what the Democratic Alliance (DA) has consistently raised: the enforcement of scholar transport policy remains far too weak, with most vehicles failing to meet basic safety standards.
Instead of immediate action, relevant departments have responded by giving operators grace periods, putting the lives of learners in grave danger.
The DA reiterates its call for immediate, proactive, and robust enforcement to ensure strict licensing checks, regular roadworthiness inspections, and harsher penalties for operators who break the law.
We further urge the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to address the underpinning issue of learners having to travel long distances to attend school due to the shortage of schools that are closer to their communities. Our children should not have to travel across towns and highways to access basic education.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial government would ensure a zero-tolerance approach to scholar transport, including regular mandatory roadworthiness inspections and intergovernmental enforcement of transport vehicles to ensure safety and compliance. At the same time, we would accelerate the construction of new schools in high-pressure areas to reduce overcrowding and the need for long-distance transportation for learners. This can be done!