City of Cape Town urged scholar transport operators to brush up on regulations focusing more on ‘back to school’ campaign and ensure that their vehicles are fit for purpose and for the sake of their young passengers but road safety in general.
Reportedly, the scholar transport service providers are required by law to obtain an operating licence from the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE), alike public transport operators. The role of City of Cape Town is to monitor for compliance but also to enforce road safety legislation.
The Transport Enforcement Unit conducted 72 operations that focused specifically on scholar transport across the metropole during the 2024 academic year. The unit also issued 6,226 fines for various transgressions and impounded 246 vehicles including light delivery vehicles, sedans, amaphelas and minibuses. In most of the cases the drivers have not operated the licences.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Safety and Security – Alderman JP Smith said that he wanted to thank the operators who are abide by the law and put their passengers’ needs and safety, first.
He also said that they are well aware that many people take to the road and are transporting far more children than the law allows in vehicles that really are not up for it.
According to Smith, many of these people do not even have driving licences and very less of them are operating licences. He mentioned that they take action where they can. But he also asked parents to be far more circumspect in their choice of transport providers.
JP Smith added further to his statement that when you sign up, insist on meeting the driver by seeing their credentials and also the vehicle that your child will be travelling in for their own peace of mind. They also help in keeping operators in the right lane.
Moreover, in general enforcement efforts the City of Cape Town agencies made 346 arrests and issued 71, 963 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions, over the past week. The law enforcement officers made 240 arrests and issued 6,696 fines for various transgressions. The Metro Police officers have arrested 68 and issued 3,245 fines for traffic and by-law transgressions. The two departments have also recovered at least six firearms and a zip gun in the past week.
Notably, Cape Town Traffic Officers apprehended 38, including 21 for driving under the influence of alcohol, six for reckless and negligent driving and 11 for other offences. They also executed 1,339 warrants, impounded 242 public transport vehicles and recorded 62,022 transgressions.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1,686 incidents, including 98 fires, 73 assault cases, 235 noise complaints, 23 complaints of drinking in public, 49 domestic violence cases and 43 motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents.