The Western Cape Mobility Department has announced a series of safety and compliance interventions aimed at improving learner transport standards across the province ahead of the new school term.
With more than 3 500 registered scholar transport operators holding over 6 000 operating licences, the Department says scholar transport remains a critical part of the province’s education and mobility system. Authorities have emphasised that compliance and vehicle safety are essential to protecting learners and other road users.
As part of these interventions, free vehicle safety checks will be offered to scholar transport operators from 12 to 16 January, between 8am and 3pm. The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with municipalities and private vehicle testing centres across the Western Cape.
Free vehicle checks will be available at multiple testing centres, including Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell, municipal testing centres in Saldanha Bay, Swartland, Swellendam and Hessequa, as well as selected AVTS testing facilities in Cape Town, Bellville, Kenilworth, Strand, Table View and Wingfield. Operators are also encouraged to make use of nearby testing centres at minimal cost where free checks are not available.
The inspections will be conducted by qualified examiners and will focus on key safety components such as tyres, brake lights, suspension systems and windscreen wipers. The checks are not full roadworthy tests and will not include the screening of fines or warrants. Vehicles will receive a printed inspection report indicating any defects that require attention.
In addition to vehicle inspections, the Department’s Provincial Regulatory Entity will deploy its Operator Helpdesk on Wheels at the Gene Louw Traffic College during the testing period. The mobile helpdesk will assist scholar transport operators with operating licence verification, guidance on new applications, progress updates on pending applications, and regulatory enquiries.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku said learner transport safety requires coordinated action from government, operators and parents. He stated that the scale of scholar transport operations across the province makes strict compliance non-negotiable and that the Department is taking steps to reduce risk by improving access to safety checks and regulatory support.
Parents and guardians have been reminded that any vehicle transporting learners for reward must hold a valid operating licence. Authorities have urged parents to verify operator licensing, ensure drivers hold Professional Driving Permits, confirm that vehicles are roadworthy, and refuse transport services that overload vehicles or place learners at risk.
Scholar transport operators have been urged to ensure correct operating licences are in place, employ qualified drivers, operate only roadworthy vehicles, avoid overloading, and load or offload learners only at designated safe areas.
Chief Director of Traffic Management Maxine Bezuidenhout said road safety begins with accountability and compliance, noting that operators carry primary responsibility for vehicle and driver readiness, while parents play a role in selecting safe transport options.
The Department’s Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement and Road Safety Management teams will conduct targeted compliance operations and learner-focused safety initiatives throughout the province as the school year begins. Road users have been urged to exercise patience near schools, obey traffic regulations, and remain alert during peak learner travel times.
The Department says these interventions form part of a broader effort to reduce preventable incidents and ensure that learner transport across the Western Cape meets required safety and regulatory standards.
