The Western Cape government has significantly intensified enforcement operations targeting scholar transport safety following a tragic school transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, with officers uncovering alarming levels of non-compliance that put children at serious risk.
Since schools reopened on 14 January, provincial traffic law enforcement officers, working closely with municipal traffic services, have conducted 45 integrated operations across the province, revealing widespread safety violations in the scholar transport sector.
The 10-day enforcement blitz yielded troubling results. Officers stopped over 1 600 vehicles, issued 1 250 fines totalling more than R580 000, impounded 46 vehicles, and removed 23 unroadworthy vehicles from the roads – many of which were transporting learners at the time.
Among the most serious violations detected were drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, with three arrests made including one driver who recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.68 mg/l – nearly three times the legal limit. Officers also discovered widespread vehicle overloading, unroadworthy conditions, and operators deliberately avoiding known enforcement routes.
A total of 109 fines were issued specifically for public transport-related offences during the operations.
Unregulated transport poses greatest threat
While scholar transport regulated through the education system is easier to monitor, authorities identified unregulated operations as the greatest concern.
These services, often operating only during peak school hours, frequently fail to comply with licensing and safety requirements while remaining difficult to track.
Minister for mobility Isaac Sileku emphasized the government’s commitment to learner safety. “Our foremost concern is the safety of every learner who depends on transport to get to and from school each day. That is why we have strengthened our enforcement efforts during the busiest travel periods being 06:00–08:00 and 13:00–15:00, placing particular focus on overloading, seatbelt use, driver fitness, vehicle roadworthiness, and valid operating licences.”
We need transport operators, parents, and guardians to take bold and proactive steps to protect the lives of our learners.
The enforcement operations highlighted several critical safety concerns: Illegal public transport vehicles carrying learners; drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, dangerous levels of vehicle overloading; unroadworthy vehicles continuing to operate and operators deliberately diverting from enforcement routes. Furthermore, repeat offenders continuing operations with minimal disruption.
Targeted interventions now include intensified monitoring of high-risk routes, increased oversight at known loading points, and enhanced intelligence-sharing between the Western Cape Education Department and municipal partners.
The province has issued strict guidelines for transport operators, demanding they maintain roadworthy vehicles, operate with valid licenses, avoid overloading, and ensure all drivers remain sober. Officials emphasized zero tolerance for violations that endanger children’s lives.
Parents are also urged to take active role
Minister Sileku stressed that government enforcement alone cannot guarantee scholar safety: “We need transport operators, parents, and guardians to take bold and proactive steps to protect the lives of our learners.”
Parents are encouraged to verify that transport vehicles are roadworthy, ensure drivers are properly licensed and sober, avoid overloaded transport arrangements, and report illegal or unsafe transport operations to authorities.
The Western Cape government warned that choosing non-compliant transport providers enables dangerous operators to continue putting children at risk, urging parents to prioritize safety over convenience when selecting school transport services. Enforcement operations will continue throughout the school term, with authorities maintaining focus on peak travel periods when learners are most vulnerable on the roads.
