Gauteng Scholar Transport Operators Face Immediate Impoundment for Unroadworthy Vehicles

Johannesburg: The Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has issued a stern warning to scholar transport operators, stating that vehicles deemed unroadworthy or those lacking valid permits will face immediate impoundment. This announcement is part of a broader effort by the Department of Roads and Transport to enhance safety measures with intensive inspections planned at schools and along transport routes, particularly during peak travel times next week as schools reopen. According to South African Government News Agency, the MEC emphasized the importance of ensuring learner safety, asserting that the government will not tolerate operators who endanger children's lives. Diale-Tlabela highlighted the responsibility drivers bear over the next nine months to transport millions of children safely to and from school, stressing that unroadworthy vehicles and unlicensed operators will not be permitted to continue their services. Vehicles found to be non-compliant will be impounded on the spot , and drivers without valid licenses will face arrest. The MEC urged parents to actively participate in safeguarding their children's transportation by refusing to pay for services that do not meet safety standards. Diale-Tlabela encouraged parents to report unsafe vehicles and reminded them of their financial influence in this matter. The requirements for all scholar transport vehicles include possessing a valid license disc and roadworthy certificate, being operated by a licensed driver, and having proper seating and functioning seatbelts for each child. Vehicles must not be overloaded and must be free of critical defects such as faulty brakes, tires, lights, and windshields. Diale-Tlabela also called on all motorists to exercise increased caution around schools and scholar transport vehicles, acknowledging the shared responsibility of road safety, particularly when children may be distracted or in a hurry. The emphasis on scholar transport safety is a central element in the Service Delivery Agreement bet ween Diale-Tlabela and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.