Image used for illustration. Officials inspect scholar transport vehicles. Picture: Supplied The Western Cape Government has intensified scholar transport safety measures following a deadly crash involving pupils in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, warning that widespread non-compliance in the sector continues to place children at an “avoidable and unacceptable risk”.
The provincial Department of Mobility on Thursday said the tragedy had once again exposed the urgent need to strengthen safety oversight for pupils who rely on daily transport to and from school. “The tragic scholar transport crash in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, has once again highlighted the urgent need to strengthen safety measures for learners who depend on daily transport to and from school,” the department said. Since schools reopened on 14 January 2026, Western Cape Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement, working with municipal traffic services, has ramped up operations targeting scholar transport across the province.
“These efforts have revealed deeply concerning levels of non-compliance within the sector, placing children at avoidable and unacceptable risk,” the department said. Between 14 and 23 January 2026, officers conducted 45 integrated operations, stopping more than 1 600 vehicles. During these roadblocks, authorities issued 1 250 fines amounting to over R580 000, impounded 46 vehicles and discontinued 23 unroadworthy vehicles, many of which were transporting pupils.
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Officials also detected drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, severe overloading, unroadworthy vehicles and operators deliberately diverting from known enforcement routes to avoid detection. “Three drivers were arrested for driving under the influence, including one who recorded a reading of 0.68mg/l. A total of 109 fines were issued for public-transport-related offences alone,” it noted. A total of 109 fines were issued for public transport-related offences alone.
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