Alarm raised as 63 KZN scholar transport vehicles fail safety inspections ahead of school reopening
A scholar transport bus being inspected for roadworthiness by Road Traffic Inspectorate officials.
Image: KZN Department of Transport / Facebook
A total of 63 scholar transport vehicles have failed recent roadworthiness inspections conducted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, as provincial authorities intensify efforts to protect learners ahead of the school reopening.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the inspections conducted by the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) in collaboration with the Public Transport Enforcement Service’s Operation Shanela.
“We wish to inform the people of KwaZulu-Natal that a team of provincial inspectors attached to the Road Traffic Inspectorate and Public Transport Service’s Operation Shanela started the inspection of the scholar transport fleet on Friday and throughout the weekend,” Duma said in a media statement issued on 12 January 2025.
The inspections are taking place across more than 26 satellite stations throughout the province, targeting vehicles that transport pupils to and from school. According to the MEC, the primary objective is learner safety. “Our main focus is to ensure the safety of about 77,000 pupils in close to 400 schools,” he said.
Inspectors are assessing critical safety elements, including “driver permits, tyres, brakes, seatbelts, suspension, and the entire condition of the vehicle.”
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma said owners of scholar transport vehicles have been instructed to deal with vehicle defects that are found.
Image: KZN Department of Transport / Facebook
So far, 198 scholar transport fleets have been inspected, comprising 143 buses, 48 minibuses, and seven smaller vehicles. Of these, 63 fleets were found to be non-compliant. The failed vehicles include 43 buses, 18 minibuses, and two smaller vehicles.
“The owners have been instructed to attend to all mechanical failures as stipulated in the contract with the Department of Transport,” Duma said.
He also commended operators whose vehicles met the required standards, noting: “We commend service providers of scholar transport who have ensured the roadworthiness of their fleet.”
The MEC confirmed that the inspections will not end with the reopening of schools.
We wish to confirm that the inspection will proceed until the reopening of schools and beyond,” he said, adding that RTI and Operation Shanela will continue working with other law enforcement agencies and municipal traffic departments.
“They will do spot checks and sustain their visibility that we all witnessed during the festive season,” Duma said.
Looking ahead, the department plans to strengthen safety oversight in the sector. Duma announced that additional measures for private scholar transport would be introduced once consultations are completed.
“We will be introducing reforms such as strengthening legislation governing the private scholar transport industry, with clear provisions on driver vetting, vehicle standards, and operational oversight,” he said.