By: Lonwabo Mtyeku | Photo Credit: Sourced
08 February 2026
The Gauteng Provincial Government has reaffirmed its commitment to learner safety and regulatory compliance in the scholar transport sector, as the MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, convened a high-level Provincial Scholar Transport Stakeholder Engagement Meeting at Johannesburg City Hall on Friday.
The engagement brought together scholar transport operators, industry stakeholders and government representatives in what the department described as a critical intervention to address persistent safety, compliance and operational challenges within the sector.
At the centre of discussions was the shared responsibility between government and operators to ensure that learner transport across the province is safe, legal and sustainable. The meeting also provided a platform to clarify regulatory requirements and outline practical measures aimed at assisting operators to regularise their operations.
Compliance and safety prioritised
MEC Diale-Tlabela emphasised that while the department is committed to supporting scholar transport operators, learner safety remains non-negotiable.
“Many operators depend on this sector for their livelihoods and genuinely want to operate legally and safely,” she said. “As the Department of Roads and Transport, our responsibility is to assist them and ensure they operate within the law. But we must meet each other halfway.”
The MEC outlined key responsibilities that operators must fulfil to advance their operating licence applications and protect learners:
- Formal contracts with parents, including signed indemnity forms assigning responsibility for transporting learners
- Endorsement letters from schools, issued by School Governing Bodies or principals, confirming that operators transport learners from their institutions
- Roadworthy vehicles, with no tolerance for substandard or unsafe transport
To support compliance, the department has engaged private Vehicle Testing Stations (VTS) across Gauteng and successfully negotiated reduced vehicle testing fees.
“We have negotiated reduced prices at private VTS centres to support operators,” Diale-Tlabela said. “There is no excuse for transporting children in unroadworthy vehicles.”
Progress and persistent gaps
The department reported measurable progress since intensifying its compliance drive last year. More than 1,500 scholar transport operators have applied for operating licences, with over 500 licences already issued. A further 1,009 applications are currently at an advanced stage of finalisation.
However, several applications remain stalled due to outstanding municipal concurrence, incomplete documentation or outdated contact details.
The MEC also raised concern over low follow-through by some operators. In the past two weeks alone, more than 600 application forms were collected from departmental offices, yet only 54 completed applications were returned.
“This gap is worrying,” she said, noting that incomplete applications delay licensing outcomes and place learner safety at risk.
Call for engagement, not avoidance
Diale-Tlabela urged operators encountering difficulties in the application process to seek assistance rather than disengage.
“If you are struggling with the process, come back to us. Our doors are open,” she said. “But we cannot finalise your operating licence without the required documents. Learner safety cannot be compromised.”
The engagement marks a renewed push by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport to balance enforcement with support, as it works alongside the Gauteng Department of Education and other stakeholders to professionalise the scholar transport sector.
As thousands of learners across the province rely daily on scholar transport services, provincial authorities say the success of these interventions will ultimately be measured not only in licences issued, but in safer journeys to and from school.
