Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

29 January 2026

2-minute read

Following the horrific accident of 14 children who lost their lives when travelling in a scholar transport taxi, several provinces have swooped in to assess scholar transport vehicles, hundreds of which were found to be unroadworthy.

More than 500 scholar transport providers gathered at the Gauteng Roads and Transport head office in Johannesburg to raise concerns about the delay of operating licences, a necessary document within the prescripts of law, when operating a vehicle in exchange for a fee.

Spokesperson for Roads and Transport MEC Lesiba Mpiya says that the department woke up to a WhatsApp message that the operators were planning a march to the head office on Commissioner Street. Surprisingly, instead of protesting, the operators, in excess of 500 plus, had decided to queue in an orderly manner to get information and assistance from officials.

Mostly all of them were not in possession of operating licenses, making them uncompliant in terms of the National Land Transport Act. The operators were asked to return to the offices with the relevant prerequisite documentation to process their applications.

Matters of concern that were raised included the impounding of unroadworthy vehicles and possession of uncompliant operating licenses. The “rigorous process” of getting background information on the operators includes checking their police clearance certificate and SARS status, says Lesiba.

While there is room for misconception and wrong information, the process of starting from scratch and applying with the relevant authorities who will adjudicate over the application, will ultimately lead to the issuing of operating licenses for these scholar transport providers.

Listen to the full interview with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Lesiba Mpya.