KZN Transport MEC orders axing of unroadworthy scholar transport providers amid crash surge

The Transport Department in KwaZulu-Natal has ordered the axing of all scholar transport service providers operating with un-roadworthy vehicles. 
The department said it wants to curb what appears to be a rapid rise of accidents in the province.

The order follows a tragic incident two weeks ago, where a minibus taxi transporting a number of school learners to schools in Pietermaritzburg crashed into a pre-school, killing the victims at the scene.

Over the past weeks, a number of accidents involving school transport have been reported in parts of the province, with most complaints to the department originating from the capital city, Pietermaritzburg.

Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said this has forced him to act urgently.

“I have mandated the Acting Head of the Department to work with municipal managers to assemble teams of officials from the department, Department of Education, and municipalities to do an audit of private scholar transport in all municipalities under uMgungundlovu District,” said MEC Duma.

With October observed as Transport Month, the MEC said he has urged Road Traffic Officers to be firm when dealing with compliance.