Authorities have issued a strong warning to scholar transport operators, saying vehicles that are unroadworthy or operating without valid permits will be impounded.
The Department of Transport says it will intensify inspections at schools, along scholar transport routes and during peak travel periods to clamp down on non-compliance.
Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa said operators found flouting regulations will be grounded, adding that the operation will also extend to private transport providers.
“It is a full-scale assessment. We are visiting depots where buses are housed, and we are working closely with the taxi industry to ensure compliance,” Hlengwa said.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the provincial Department of Transport this week grounded 63 scholar transport vehicles after they failed safety inspections conducted by road traffic inspectors and the Public Transport Services’ Operation Shanela. Inspectors carried out checks at more than 26 satellite stations across the province.
Hlengwa said the enforcement drive forms part of a broader national road safety campaign aimed at protecting learners.
“We believe consequence management, including fines and the withdrawal of permits, is critical to ensuring safety,” he said.