Zuko Komisa
- The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport is demanding that all scholar transport operators immediately formalise their services to ensure student safety.
- Over 500 operators met with officials this week to address licensing backlogs, resulting in the distribution of 1,000 new application forms to bridge the compliance gap.
- MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela warned that law enforcement will intensify across the province, as vehicles failing to meet strict safety and legal standards will no longer be tolerated.
For hundreds of parents, the daily commute of their children is a source of constant anxiety.
On Monday, that tension met the pavement as over 500 scholar transport operators gathered at the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport’s head office, seeking a path toward legality and safer roads.
While operators voiced frustrations over licensing hurdles, MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela made the province’s stance clear: the safety of learners is non-negotiable.
“If you cannot meet the minimum legal requirements to safely transport learners, you have no business operating in this space,” Diale-Tlabela stated, emphasizing that while the department is ready to help, the law will be enforced “without fear or favour.”
In a show of good faith, the department has simplified the process for those willing to work within the law. The goal is to move beyond the “shadow economy” of transport and into a regulated system where every driver is vetted and every vehicle is roadworthy.
Key Requirements for Operators: To bridge the gap, the department has outlined a checklist for a valid operating license (R600 fee), which includes:
- Safety Vetting: Valid PrDP, police clearance, and roadworthy certificates.
- School Links: A signed recommendation letter and a stamped list of learners.
- Financial/Legal: Tax compliance (SARS) and proof of insurance indemnity.
The MEC warned that enforcement operations will intensify across Gauteng to remove unsafe vehicles from the road. In the meantime, the department is calling on the “village” to help raise the standard. Parents and guardians are urged to report reckless driving or unroadworthy vehicles to the Gauteng Traffic Inspectorate at 0800 428 8364.
Applications are currently being processed in person at TOLAB offices in Tshwane, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, West Rand, and Sedibeng.
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