enca - 25 days ago

Government launches crackdown on unsafe scholar transport Nokuthula Khanyile Fri, 01/16/2026 - 12:28 JOHANNESBURG - Authorities have issued a stern warning to scholar transport operators that unroadworthy vehicles and those operating without valid permits will be impounded.The Department of Transport says intensive inspections will be conducted at schools, along travel routes and during peak travel times.Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhuleko Hlengwa said operators found using unroadworthy vehicles or operating with invalid permits will be grounded. He added that the operation will also target private operators.“It is a full-scale assessment. We are visiting depots where buses are housed, and we are working with the taxi industry to ensure compliance,” Hlengwa said.This week, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport grounded 63 scholar transport vehicles after they failed safety inspections carried out by road traffic inspectors and the public transport service’s Operation Shanela. The team visited more than 26 satellite stations across the province.Hlengwa said the operation forms part of a broader national road safety campaign.“We believe consequence management, including fines and the withdrawal of permits, is critical to ensuring safety,” he said.

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