Scholar transporters march to Gauteng Transport MEC's office to air grievances

Hundreds of scholar transport operators are marching to the offices of Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela to air their grievances over what they describe as newly imposed requirements by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.

The protesters, mainly from the Benoni Education Scholar Transport Association, say the department has introduced stricter regulations for private scholar transport operators.

This, after the horrific accident that claimed the lives of 14 children while they were travelling in scholar transport.

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The protest comes after a planned meeting between the transport operators and the MEC was cancelled last Sunday.

The meeting could not proceed, as the venue was too small to accommodate the operators who had arrived in large numbers.

The operators argue that they are being unfairly punished for the accident in Vanderbijlpark.

John Chauke spoke on behalf of the association: “That accident is punishing all scholar transport operators in South Africa. Why do you say that? Because we had an accident on our side on the N12 where 14 children were killed, and the transport involved was government scholar transport and they didn’t do what they are doing now.”

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has since ramped up its compliance campaign, impounding vehicles that are not roadworthy.

Among the new requirements, scholar transport operators must obtain school authorisation letters, ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and have formal contracts with parents or guardians.

Operators said that while they are not opposed to safety measures, they need time to comply.