Cape Town - With the focus on “back to school” on Wednesday, the City has urged scholar transport operators to brush-up on regulations and ensure their vehicles are fit for purpose.
This, after the 2024 academic year saw the Transport Enforcement Unit issuing 6 226 fines for various transgressions and impounding 246 vehicles, including light delivery vehicles, sedans, amaphelas and minibuses.
In most of the cases, drivers did not have operating licences.
The City’s mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said just like public transport operators, scholar transport service providers are required, by law, to obtain an operating licence from the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE).
“Many of these people do not even have driving licences, much less operating licences.
“We take action where we can, but I also ask that parents be far more circumspect in their choice of transport providers.
“When you sign-up, insist on meeting the driver, seeing their credentials and also the vehicle that your child will be travelling in, for your own peace of mind, but also to help keep operators in the right lane,” said Smith.
In general enforcement efforts over the past week, City agencies made 346 arrests and issued 71 963 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
Metro Police officers made 68 arrests and issued 3 245 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
The Western Cape Department of Mobility said it was once again offering free vehicle safety inspections for all scholar transport operators in Cape Town on Tuesday at the Gene Louw Traffic Training College in Brackenfell.
Operators unable to attend the inspections can contact the Department via Gene Louw Traffic College on 021 983 1500 or Jacqueline.Tweedie@ westerncape.gov.za and arrangements will be made for an inspector to assess vehicles at a convenient date, time and location.
Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, said: “Ensuring the safety of our children begins with the vehicles that transport them every day. This initiative is a vital step in preventing accidents and breakdowns by addressing potential safety risks before learners return to the classroom.
“We urge all operators to take advantage of these free checks and join us in prioritising safety on our roads. Let’s work together to build a culture of care and accountability in scholar transport.”
Meanwhile, the Select Committee on Education, Science and Creative Industries chairperson, Makhi Feni, has called on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to focus on admissions and teaching on the first day of schools reopening.
He also noted the campaigns around scholar transport and other issues like cutting teacher posts.