Parents across Gauteng are facing serious concerns regarding the safety of scholar transport, following alarming findings from recent roadworthiness inspections. At the Jabulani testing station in Soweto, road safety inspectors examined 51 scholar transport vehicles over three days last week, revealing that a staggering 94% of them failed to meet basic roadworthiness requirements. Only three vehicles passed the rigorous tests, leaving parents fearful of sending their children to school.

Lesiba Mpya, spokesperson for the roads and transport department, detailed the critical issues uncovered during these inspections. Drivers were found operating without valid licenses, and many vehicles lacked proper license discs. Furthermore, inspectors identified numerous mechanical and structural failures, including broken seatbelts, cracked windscreens, dangerously worn smooth tires, loose wiring, broken doors, and worn shock absorbers. These deficiencies highlight the grave dangers children face daily while commuting.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale Tlabela, expressed strong condemnation of the inspection results. She stated, "These results are unacceptable. The fact that 94 percent of vehicles tested failed to meet basic roadworthiness requirements demonstrates the grave danger our children face daily. We will not allow this to continue." These inspections were initiated after a tragic crash on the R553 Golden Highway in Vanderbijlpark two weeks prior, which claimed the lives of 14 children. The driver involved in that incident has since abandoned efforts to secure bail.

The Democratic Alliance's shadow roads member, Evert Du Plessis, also weighed in, asserting that the findings underscore a failure on the government's part to protect learners. "The safety of Gauteng learners on our roads is in grave danger. The fact that only six percent passed the inspection should raise alarm bells and force immediate action," Du Plessis commented.

In a related enforcement action, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department launched operations in Alexandra on Friday morning, impounding approximately 50 unroadworthy taxis primarily used for scholar transport. This action brought scholar transport services in the area to a complete standstill, with Alexandra scholar transport operators responding by stopping all services and blocking roads to prevent any children from being transported to school. Operators whose vehicles were impounded face substantial penalties, including fines of R5,000 or more to reclaim their vehicles.

The department has issued a stern warning to operators who disregard safety regulations, indicating that they will face severe consequences, including fines, vehicle impoundment, and criminal charges. In response to the widespread non-compliance, authorities have announced plans for more inspections to be conducted in the future, signaling a sustained effort to improve child safety in scholar transport across Gauteng.