Western Cape govt places scholar transport safety high on list of priorities

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape government has placed scholar transport safety high up on its list of priorities.

Last week, it offered free vehicle inspections for all scholar transport operators in Cape Town and Malmesbury.

This week, in partnership with the Road Accident Fund (RAF), a special defensive driving workshop will get underway.

The initiative is open to all scholar transport drivers and operators with 7 or 16-seater vehicles who have existing contracts or arrangements with parents or guardians and are operating within the city.

The Western Cape Department of Mobility said the workshop would be held in Grassy Park, Bellville, and Mitchells Plain this week, with bookings already filled in Mitchells Plain.

Tragedy struck that community earlier in October when a minibus taxi with at least 29 school children onboard, overturned on Swartklip Road.

A 16-year-old girl was killed, and the 25-year-old driver has been charged with culpable homicide and has been released on bail.

In May 2023, also in Mitchells Plain, a bakkie transporting several children to school, crashed into a traffic light, killing six of them.