Staff Reporter
Sixty-three scholar transport vehicles have failed safety inspections in KwaZulu-Natal so far, provincial transport MEC Siboniso Duma said on Monday, as officials intensified checks ahead of the reopening of schools on Wednesday.
The failed vehicles included 43 buses and 20 minibuses.
Duma said provincial inspectors from the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Public Transport Service’s Operation Shanela began inspecting the scholar transport fleet on Friday and continued through the weekend.
“Our main focus is to ensure the safety of about 77,000 pupils in close to 400 schools,” he said.
The inspection programme is covering more than 26 satellite stations across the province and is checking driver permits, tyres, brakes, seatbelts, suspension and the overall condition of vehicles.
Scholar transport is a subsidised programme intended to help eligible learners – particularly those who live far from school — get to and from public schools safely, in line with the country’s National Learner Transport Policy.
By Monday, a total of 198 vehicles had been inspected, including 143 buses and 48 minibuses.
“The owners have been instructed to attend to all mechanical failures as stipulated in the contract with the Department of Transport,” Duma said.
He said the inspections would continue after schools reopen.
“We wish to confirm that the inspection will proceed until the re-opening of schools and beyond.”
Duma said the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Operation Shanela would work with other law enforcement agencies and municipal traffic departments to ensure safe transport, and this would include spot checks.
“In addition, we will announce more safety measures for private scholar transport once all consultations have been finalised with key stakeholders.”
He said the province also planned regulatory reforms for the private scholar transport industry.
“As we announced toward the end of last year, we will be introducing reforms such as strengthening legislation governing the private scholar transport industry, with clear provisions on driver vetting, vehicle standards, and operational oversight.”
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