Scholar transport in the headlights
13 January 2025
With the focus on ‘back to school’ this week, the City urges scholar transport operators to brush up on regulations and ensure that their vehicles are fit for purpose, not just for the sake of their young passengers, but road safety in general. Read more below:
Just like public transport operators, scholar transport service providers are required, by law, to obtain an operating licence from the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE).
The City's role is to monitor for compliance, but also to enforce road safety legislation.
During the 2024 academic year, the Transport Enforcement Unit conducted 72 operations focusing specifically on scholar transport across the metropole, issued 6 226 fines for various transgressions and impounded 246 vehicles, including light delivery vehicles, sedans, amaphelas and minibuses – in most of the cases, drivers did not have operating licences.
'I want to thank the operators who abide by the law and put their passengers' needs and safety first. That said, we are well aware that many people take to the road, transporting far more children than the law allows, in vehicles that really aren't up for it. Many of these people do not even have driving licences, much less operating licences. We take action where we can, but I also ask that parents be far more circumspect in their choice of transport providers. When you sign up, insist on meeting the driver, seeing their credentials and also the vehicle that your child will be traveling in, for your own peace of mind, but also to help keep operators in the right lane,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
In general enforcement efforts over the past week, City agencies made 346 arrests and issued 71 963 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
Law enforcement officers made 240 arrests and issued 6 696 fines for various transgressions.
Metro Police officers made 68 arrests and issued 3 245 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions.
The two departments also recovered at least six firearms and a zip gun in the past week.
Cape Town Traffic Officers made 38 arrests, including 21 for driving under the influence of alcohol, six for reckless and negligent driving and 11 for other offences. They also executed 1 339 warrants, impounded 242 public transport vehicles and recorded 62 022 transgressions.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 686 incidents, including 98 fires, 73 assault cases, 235 noise complaints, 23 complaints of drinking in public, 49 domestic violence cases and 43 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
