Gauteng scholar transport operators protest as department tightens compliance measures

Tensions between the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and scholar transport operators escalated this week as the government continues to tighten compliance measures, while operators took to the streets in protest and refused to attend a scheduled engagement.

On Friday, Gauteng scholar transport operators gathered at Liberty Gardens before marching to Mary Fitzgerald Square, where they handed a memorandum to Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. They also announced they would not attend a departmental engagement scheduled for Saturday, as only a handful of associations had agreed to participate.

“We are not attending that event, she will have to wait until we give her our memorandum and after seven days, she will respond then we will attend whatever meeting she calls.”

The standoff comes as the department intensifies oversight of the sector, placing strong emphasis on the mandatory possession of valid operating licences and strict vehicle compliance standards.

At an engagement held at the University of Johannesburg in Soweto, Diale-Tlabela underscored that no operator may transport learners without proper authorisation. 

She said operating licences are not merely administrative requirements, but essential legal safeguards that ensure accountability and protect learners.

“Scholar transport operators are not just service providers; they are partners in protecting the lives of our children. We are intensifying relations with operators to ensure a safe, reliable, and compliant scholar transport system that parents and schools can trust.”

As a temporary measure, enforcement on passenger liability compliance has been relaxed to allow operators time to regularise their policies. However, the department said it will intensify frequent roadworthiness inspections to ensure all vehicles transporting learners are mechanically sound and safe for daily use.

“There will be zero tolerance for unroadworthy vehicles carrying learners. If a vehicle is not safe, it will not operate. Simple,” said Diale-Tlabela.

The department also warned against the use of vehicles that do not meet the standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), particularly regarding vehicle condition, seating capacity and safety features.

To clamp down on illegal operations, operators will now be required to submit official letters from schools confirming their service agreements. The department said this step is intended to strengthen verification processes and prevent unauthorised individuals from operating under the guise of scholar transport providers.

The Department reiterated that registered scholar transport associations remain central partners in coordinating the sector, facilitating communication and promoting self-regulation.

But some operators argue government intervention has come too late.

Another scholar transport driver criticised the government for what he described as a delayed intervention in the sector, saying operators had built the industry independently over many years. He said many drivers invested their pension funds to sustain their businesses and support their families.

“The government must work together with scholar associations to ensure that all necessary policies and procedures are followed to regulate our transport accordingly, they must not bring their transportation while we have ours,” he said.

Diale-Tlabela reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ongoing engagement, saying structured dialogue, capacity-building programmes and compliance support initiatives would continue.

“We are building a system where compliance is achievable, safety is non-negotiable, and cooperation is the foundation of service delivery,” she said. 

The Star

masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za