Impounded vehicles spark protests as scholar operators demand law relaxation

The Gauteng Roads and Transport Department has pushed back against demands from private scholar transport operators.

The department says its demands are informed by years of not adhering to existing laws.

Hundreds of private scholar operators from various organisations marched to the department’s offices today, calling for scholar transport regulations to be relaxed.

Some say they should be given a two-to-three-year grace period to comply.

The protest follows the department’s intensified compliance campaign, which has seen officials impounding unroadworthy and overloaded vehicles.

Drivers without the legally required public driving permits have also been flagged.

Among the requirements, scholar transport operators must enter into formal contracts with parents or guardians when transporting their children.

Spokesperson Lesiba Mpya explains: "Section 49 of the Road Traffic Act gives the onus on the operator to see to it that these kids are transported lawfully, they are transported safely in reliable transport, their loading and offloading is safe. Their transportation on a daily basis is in adherence to the law, that the driver must have a valid licence and drivers permit."

The operators have given the department 14 days to respond to their list of demands.