The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management has intensified scholar transport vehicle inspections as part of preparations for the reopening of schools for the third term on Monday, 21 July 2026.
The department is carrying out mandatory verification and roadworthiness inspections of all contracted scholar transport vehicles to ensure operators meet safety requirements and contractual obligations before transporting learners.
Department Communication Director Oshebeng Koonyaditse said the inspections form part of the department’s service level agreement with scholar transport operators and are conducted four times a year during every school holiday.
“The inspections are aimed at ensuring that vehicles are roadworthy, safe for learners and that all documentation corresponds with the vehicles approved to provide scholar transport services,” Koonyaditse said.
The department has cautioned that operators who fail to present their vehicles for inspection or use vehicles that are not registered with the department will face contractual consequences. Non-compliant operators will not be allowed to transport learners, and payments will not be processed for services rendered using unapproved vehicles.
The inspections assess vehicle roadworthiness, compliance with safety standards, the validity of operating licences and the verification of vehicles assigned to designated scholar transport routes.
The department reaffirmed that learner safety remains its highest priority, saying strict compliance measures are essential to ensuring safe, reliable and efficient transport for thousands of learners across the province as the third school term gets underway.
