The North West Department of Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring safe scholar transport services ahead of the 2026 academic year.
This commitment was highlighted during the Back-to-School Road Safety Campaign, led by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy at the N4 Bapong Weighbridge on Thursday.
The department’s Head, Dr Hans Kekana, said inspections conducted during the campaign identified several defects that require urgent attention before schools reopen on 14 January.
Kekana noted that one of the major challenges during the 2024/25 financial year was the use of unroadworthy buses at some schools receiving scholar transport services.
“As a department, we are committed to ensuring that all vehicles transporting learners are roadworthy and meet all safety requirements,” Kekana said.
Last year, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) called for urgent intervention to address policy and administrative challenges affecting scholar transport in the province. The commission found that late payments to service providers and the use of unsafe buses contributed to learner absenteeism, accidents, and fatalities.
Kekana assured the public that all defects identified during Thursday’s inspections would be addressed promptly. He added that transport operators have been instructed to ensure their vehicles are fully roadworthy before the start of the academic year.
He further warned that no bus will be permitted to transport learners unless it complies with the required road safety standards.
