Gauteng Transport: Taxi association membership is no guarantee to operate scholar transport

The Gauteng transport department said that joining a taxi association does not automatically entitle drivers to operate as scholar transport providers.

Department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said many drivers had not applied for operating licences because they were under the impression that being affiliated with an association was sufficient.

This comes after authorities revealed that the driver of a scholar transport vehicle involved in a fatal crash last week had no valid permit to transport children.

Last week, the department conducted an inspection in Lenasia that resulted in 60 cars being impounded for non-compliance.

On Monday, the operation took place in Ekurhuleni and is set to continue across various parts of Gauteng.

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Mpya said that while it was a personal choice to belong to an association, it was a personal obligation for individuals to be legal and compliant by holding an operating licence.

He added that even scholar transport vehicles sponsored by the department of education were under the spotlight.

Mpya said that the department wanted to assist drivers to become thriving business people.

He said that while profit margins were narrow, the government wanted to engage and listen to the concerns of operators.