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Image of scholar transport.
Student organisation Congress of South African Student (COSAS) has called on the Gauteng Department of Education to shutdown all schools in the province until the learner transport challenge has been resolved.
The ongoing strike by scholar transport operators has resulted in thousands of learners missing school.
Learners across parts of Gauteng enter another week out of school, due to unresolved payment issues between scholar transport drivers and the education department.
The Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council says the department owes their operators outstanding payments.
[REPORTER CROSSINGS]
Learners at about 18 schools in Boksburg who rely on the government’s free scholar transport have not been attending classes since last week after service providers suspended their services. SABC News reporter Calvin Dludla has more.#MorningLive #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/EqcjYKcBhP
— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) February 9, 2026
Ntefeleng Sonke, coordinator of COSAS central core in Gauteng says what the department is doing is unacceptable.
“As COSAS we say an injury to one learner is an injury to all. It therefore unjust and unacceptable for teaching and learning to continue while other learners remain stranded due to operational challenges affecting scholar transport services. In defense of all learner safety and educational quality COSAS calls for the immediate shutdown of all schools around Gauteng.”
MEDIA STATEMENT | GDE calls for calm as engagements continue to resolve Public Scholar Transport payment matters
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) appeals for calm among all stakeholders as engagements with Public Scholar Transport Service Providers continue and… pic.twitter.com/j80Q9YI1RO
— Gauteng Department of Education (@EducationGP1) February 6, 2026
‘End the impasse’
Some of the learners, who are affected by Gauteng scholar transport strike, have pleaded with the Department of Education to end the impasse with the scholar transport operators.
The operators, affiliated to different scholar transport services stopped ferrying learners to school claiming non payment of service providers. This has led to several learners being left stranded.
16-year-old Kamohelo Molefe of Villa Liza in Boksburg is one of the affected learners.
“The strike has affected many of us because sometimes we arrive late at school. Our parents cannot afford money for a taxi, especially if there is three learners in one house. We walk long distances to get to school.”
VIDEO | Learners stranded due to unavailability of scholar transport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szx1ujryGEY
