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A scholar transport vehicle is seen during an inspection by the Department of Transport on 22 January 2026.
Some scholar transport drivers in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, say they are concerned about traffic officers impounding their vehicles. The drivers have been transporting learners in vehicles such as bakkies.
Members of the Vhembe Transport Association met to discuss issues around getting special permits. They’ve appealed to the Transport Department to stop officers from impounding their scholar vehicles until the issue of permits is resolved.
The association’s Colbert Rambuwami says they are protesting because the department of education has halted their operations.
“The only reason we are protesting is because we are using half trucks and bakkies as scholar transports, so the department is no longer allowing us to ferry learners using those vehicles. We are pleading with the government to give us permission to operate using those bakkies because the unemployment rate is not decreasing, so this is how we are making a living to survive.”
[WATCH] Hundreds of scholar transport operators have gathered at Library Gardens in Johannesburg CBD, set to march and hand over a memorandum of grievances to the Department of Transport over the temporary impounding of their vehicles.#sabcnews #UpdateAtNoon pic.twitter.com/kpzUeN3YEO
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) February 13, 2026
Meanwhile, the department’s spokesperson, Matome Taueatsoala, says light delivery vehicles should not be used to transport learners.
IN: “Unfortunately the law cannot be amended in exchange of the safety of our kids.so it is for that reason tha we will continue to be vigilant when we find anyone tranporting our kids in the large delivery vehicles or what is popularly known as bakkies.”
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