As the academic year shifts into gear, the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Service has reminded parents and guardians that scholar transport is more than just a means to get to school, and that operators have to tick numerous procedural boxes.
Among these are that those offering a scholar transport service is required, by law, to have an operating permit, a public driving permit (PrDP) and a roadworthy vehicle. The permits can be obtained through the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works, while compliance is enforced by the City’s enforcement agencies.
Last year, City traffic officers held 34 scholar transport operations at 52 schools in the metropole, issuing 7 649 fines and impounding 116 vehicles. Among the challenges are overloaded vehicles, unlicensed drivers, unroadworthy vehicles and operating without the necessary permits.
“Sadly, scholar transport is often overlooked, until an incident captures the headlines,” said JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security. “And yet, thousands of children are ferried to and from school by service providers daily – some more law abiding than others. As we start this new academic year, I appeal to the drivers to do right by the many children whose lives they hold in their hands every day. To parents, I encourage you to do your due diligence and check the credentials of your chosen service provider; and even our schools – while not technically their responsibility, I do implore them to say something if they see something.”
Apart from being fined and having their vehicles impounded, operators also risk having their operating licences withdrawn or suspended if caught transgressing. They may be arrested for operating a service with fraudulent documentation, and reckless and/or negligent driving may result in arrest too and the impoundment of vehicles.
Parents are encouraged to do the following to ensure their children’s safe passage to and from school:
• Check your service provider’s credentials, including permits and driving licence.
• Ensure the vehicle is roadworthy.
• Know the driver or drivers, and have contact details available.
• Ensure the scholar transport operator they entrust the child or children to are legal and have all the necessary documentation to provide such a service.
• Familiarise yourself with the parents or caregivers of other children using the transport service; start a WhatsApp group in case of an emergency
• Sensitise your child to matters of personal safety and encourage them to report any suspicious behaviour, whether from the driver or other children in the vehicle.
To report any criminal activity or emergency, phone 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
