Gauteng government commits to reducing scholar transport crashes

Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has committed to reducing scholar transport crashes by increasing law enforcement visibility on the roads to ensure compliance with road traffic rules.
Fourteen learners were killed when a scholar transport minibus taxi collided with a truck in Vanderbijlpark in January.
On Tuesday morning, eight learners were injured when their scholar transport collided with a bakkie in Ekurhuleni.
The MEC’s spokesperson Lesiba Mpya spoke to the media during a handing over ceremony of operating licenses to minibus and scholar transport operators in Johannesburg.
“We are certainly going to increase boots on the ground. Law enforcement is going to be the order of the day. We are not going to negotiate law enforcement with anyone. We believe that the safety of the people of Gauteng is non-negotiable.”
Meanwhile, 250 scholar transport and minibus taxi operators expressed excitement after receiving operating licenses for the first time during the handover ceremony.
One operator could not contain his excitement after receiving his permit.
“I’m very excited about this. It has been a very long time where I have been without permits and that has created a lot of problems for me. My vehicles would from time to time be impounded and I would have to pay authorities R11 500 for them to be released. In the past, there was so much fear and uncertainty having to operate, due to fears that the vehicles would be impounded. But now that I have permits, I’m very excited.”
 

Today, the Department handed over 250 operating licences to minibus taxi and scholar transport operators as part of our ongoing efforts to improve compliance and strengthen road safety on our roads.
These licences will help ensure that operators are properly registered and able… pic.twitter.com/i0FWJ7tGRm
— GP Roads and Transport (@GPDRT_) March 10, 2026

Scholar transport under the spotlight: 

 
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/gauteng-government-commits-to-reducing-scholar-transport-crashes/