A workshop for scholar transport drivers and operators was held at Alberton Primary School on January 28.

The gathering was attended by scholar transport operators and drivers, SAPS, EMPD, minibus taxi executives, and other stakeholders.

The workshop was convened by Greater Alberton Education Transport Co-operative Limited, led by Leon Mtshali.

The workshop comes on the back of a horrific scholar transport crash in the Vaal, which resulted in the death of 14 learners.

“The purpose of the gathering was to educate scholar transport drivers and operators on accident preventative measures, learner safety, driver behaviour, etcetera,” said Mtshali.

Law enforcement officials warned scholar transport operators and drivers against operating without the required permits, overloading scholar transport vehicles, and speeding.

@albertonrecordThe purpose of the gathering was to educate scholar transport drivers and operators on accident preventative measures, learner safety, driver behaviour, and other issues in the industry. The workshop comes on the back of a horrific scholar transport crash in the Vaal which resulted in the death of 14 learners. Full story on albertonrecord.co.za♬ original sound – Alberton Record

However, drivers and operators pointed out that there was a backlog in the issuing of permits, which makes it difficult for them to operate, and they also raised concerns about regulatory redtape in the scholar transport industry.

Alberton Primary School SGB chairperson, Never Zishiri, spoke about the behaviour of scholar transport drivers and the vehicles he deems unfit to transport pupils. “I know what I am about to say might upset some of you.

Some of the vehicles I observe transporting learners really pose a danger to their safety. How can an operator transport learners in a vehicle with a damaged door that does not properly close?” asked Zishiri.

“It always makes me wonder, does this driver not think these kids might fall should the door fall off. Also, I see some drivers park in the middle of the road when dropping kids off, and that causes traffic. It is small things like these that we must pay special attention to so that we can achieve learner safety and improve driver etiquette,” he added.

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), more than 800 learners died in scholar transport-related accidents in SA between 2018 and 2022.

These deaths are attributed to human factors such as driver fatigue, speeding, and reckless overtaking.