Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has urged school transport owners to comply with operating licensing regulations or face the full might of the law.
Image: Matthews Baloyi
Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has urged school transport owners to comply with operating licensing regulations or face the full might of the law.
This warning comes ahead of the school re-opening for coastal and inland schools. This was also extended to drivers of the vehicles ferrying learners to and from school.
The department said it issued a notice to all school transport operators through their various associations to ensure they operate legally and that vehicles are roadworthy.
Diale-Tlabela further warned that operators who do not possess valid operating licenses will not be allowed to transport learners, and may have their vehicles fined or impounded.
"Our priority is to save lives in the learner transport system. Those scholar transport operators without operating licenses will not be allowed to ferry learners and those who do can expect to face the harshest consequences," she said.
The MEC mentioned that traffic law enforcement officials will be conducting routine checks and "those found not to be compliant will face the full might of the law."
This is because in recent years, Gauteng and other provinces around the country have witnessed a number of school transport accidents which claimed lives of learners and community members.
Many of the accidents were reportedly caused by unroadworthy vehicles and amateur drivers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education in Mpumalanga has also called on transport owners to ensure that their vehicles are fully roadworthy.
"With the new school term around the corner, it is imperative that all service providers take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our learners.
"Roadworthy vehicles are not just a legal requirement; they are crucial for safeguarding the lives of our children as they travel to and from school," added Public Works, Roads and Transport MEC, Thulasizwe Thomo.
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