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File: A scholar transport vehicle is seen during an inspection by the Department of Transport on 22 January 2026.
Gauteng Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela sent out a stern warning to scholar transport associations.
This as they instructed their members not to participate in a stakeholder engagement session.
Her admonition comes after most scholar transport operators boycotted Saturday’s meeting at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto Campus.
Diale-Tlabela emphasised the importance of licenses stating that they have road safety challenges and need to ensure operators are compliant at all times.
“Part of them decided not to be part of this engagement, we just had successful engagements with the local associations that came today. We dealt with the issues that are of concern, we’re happy that they want to comply and we took them through some of the issues that they had as a problem. Some were raising that the issue of police clearance is a hindrance to them because they submit it when they apply for PRDT, so why do we want another one. We’ve also have issued licences today, we managed to give more Tshwane operating licences than any other municipalities. Tshwane and Sedibeng are very compliant and are assisting us. We’re still struggling in Ekurhuleni and well as in Johannesburg.”
Department spokesperson, Lesiba Mpya says while the operators call for a seamless working relationship, the low turnout for the engagement meeting proves futile.
“This is the platform given by government that they must come ventilate their issues, express where we’re able to find each other in terms of regulations, it’s a conversation we’re prepared to have. We’re quite disappointed that this is how they’re treating their own issues which they deemed very urgent and they decide not to honour the invite by the MEC, while responding to the matters raised on the memorandum. Part of the issues that their raising is issues of operating licences, they’re requesting that government speed up on the issue of operating licences. We’ve got a response on that. They’re raising issues of requirements they deem as unreasonable, they’re also raising issues on the impoundment of vehicles that are un-roadworthy.”
After halting their services due to non-payment, operations of the small bus operators contracted to the Gauteng Department will resume operations on Monday.
The Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council Chairperson, Jabulani Khumalo eleborates:
“Operation of scholar transport services will resume as normal from the 16th of February 2026. I would like to thank Mr Matome Chiloane the MEC of Education for his intervention to make sure that the December and November payments are made. We also like to convey our sincere apologies to the parents and learners for all the inconvenience caused during our suspension of service.”
