Mapaballo Borotho
- Scholar transport drivers have embarked on another strike across parts of Gauteng, leaving hundreds of learners stranded.
- Parents are scrambling for alternative transport amid wet weather and rising costs.
- Drivers plan to hand over a memorandum in Johannesburg, while the Transport Department says contingency plans are in place to ensure safety.
Parents have expressed frustration as scholar transport drivers down tools across parts of Gauteng on Friday, 13 February 2025.
This has left hundreds of learners stranded, forcing guardians to scramble for alternative travel arrangements.
This is not the first time transport drivers have embarked on a strike this month. The demonstrations follow the impoundment of more than 100 scholar vehicles during recent law-enforcement operations following the deaths of 14 learners.
Meanwhile, the wet weather conditions have also added to parents’ challenges, with some walking long distances to catch taxis, while others are paying more for e-hailing services.
Parents say these repeated disruptions are creating stress and uncertainty as learners struggle to reach school on time.
On the other hand, drivers are accusing the Transport Department of ongoing regulatory challenges, permit issues, and what they describe as harassment.
They are expected to gather at Beyers Naudé Square in Johannesburg at 10 this morning to hand over a memorandum of demands to the Roads and Transport Department.
At the same time, the Gauteng Transport Department says contingency plans are in place, working with law enforcement, to ensure learner safety during the scholar transport protest underway across the province today.
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