By Charmaine Ndlela
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) has urged scholar transport operators to comply with licensing requirements and road safety regulations to improve learner safety across the province.
The call was made during an engagement with operators at Boekenhoutkloof Traffic College in Tshwane, as part of the department’s Learner Transport Education and Awareness Programme (LTEAP).
The programme focuses on operating licences, vehicle roadworthiness and responsible driving practices following concerns about learner transport incidents.
“Ensuring the safety of learners remains a shared responsibility,” the department said.
“Through responsible driving, regulatory compliance and sustained cooperation among all stakeholders, Gauteng can continue working towards safer and more reliable learner transport services across the province.”
Under the National Land Transport Act, individuals and businesses transporting passengers for a fee must hold valid operating licences.
Applicants must submit supporting documents, including copies of pupils’ identity documents, business registration paperwork, transport route maps and tax compliance certificates, among other requirements.
The engagement also highlighted the Gauteng Public Transport Regulatory Information System (GPTRIS), which aims to streamline licensing applications and allow operators to track their progress and identify outstanding requirements.
Operators were given an opportunity to raise concerns and discuss challenges affecting their businesses. The department said their feedback would inform further interventions to improve compliance and coordination.
The department has handed over 526 operating licences to compliant scholar transport and minibus taxi operators.
Since November last year, it has processed, issued and handed over more than 8,000 operating licences across the province.
The department plans to expand the LTEAP through a structured roadshow across Gauteng’s five regions to provide operators with guidance on their legal responsibilities and safety obligations.
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