More than 500 scholar transport operators gathered at the Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport’s (GPDRT) head office to voice their concerns regarding challenges surrounding the issuing of scholar transport operating licences.
Tuesday’s gathering follows the January 19 accident on the R553 Golden Highway in Vanderbijlpark, in which 14 children died when the driver of the minibus collided head-on with a truck.
Twelve of the victims, who were on their way to school, died on the scene.
The 22-year-old driver, Ayanda Dludla, has not had a valid Professional Driving Permit since November last year, and was arrested and charged with 14 counts of culpable homicide.
A statement issued by the GPDRT, says: “The engagement underscored the urgency of resolving long-standing licensing issues that have hindered many operators from formalising and sustaining their operations within the sector.”
MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has acknowledged the legitimacy of concerns raised and further highlighted gaps in information regarding the application process and required documents, the GPDRT states.
“To demonstrate the Department’s commitment to strengthening regulation and improving service delivery to operators, over 1 000 operating licence application forms were issued to aspiring scholar transport operators and clear information provided on the list of requirements.”
The GPDRT says it believes the gesture serves to reaffirm the Department’s commitment to improving access, transparency and compliance within the sector.
However, the department has also made it clear that, according to the National Land Traffic Act 5 (2009, section 54 and 62), a public transport operator must be in possession of a valid operating licence, allowing him/her to convey commuters for a fee on the country’s roads.
Diale-Tlabela says: “The Department is willing to work with scholar transport operators who genuinely want to regularise their operations. However, compliance with the law is not optional. Scholar transport is a safety-critical service, and the safety and dignity of our learners remain non-negotiable.”
The GPDRT says the MEC is against disruptions and shutdowns led by non-compliant operators.
“As a Provincial Government, we will not condone disruptions, shutdowns or intimidation aimed at forcing the Department to overlook issues related to non-compliance. In many cases, resistance to compliance arises because vehicles or documentation do not meet the required standards.”
Diale-Tlabela stresses that “the law will be enforced without fear or favour”.
“If you cannot meet the minimum legal requirements to safely transport learners, you have no business operating in this space. Our learners' lives are not negotiable.”
The GPDRT reiterates that no operator may provide scholar transport services unlawfully, as enforcement operations will continue intensifying across the province to ensure compliance and safeguard learners and other road users.
“The Department further calls on all scholar transport operators to act responsibly, work with the Department in good faith, and take immediate steps to regularise their operation’s required documentation for Scholar Transport Operating Licence applications.”
