In response to the escalating protests over the suspension of scholar transport services across parts of Gauteng, including Boksburg, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has issued a statement outlining steps it says are being taken to address the disruptions, including the said months of non-payment to bus operators.

On February 9, frustrated parents and learners in Boksburg took to the streets to protest the halted services, said to be linked to non-payments of service providers.

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The demonstrations spread to surrounding towns the following day, with parents and learners blockading major roads and vowing not to disperse until the government addresses their concerns.

In a statement issued on February 10, the GDE confirmed that it has been engaging with associations representing approximately 250 contracted scholar transport providers that operate around 3600 buses, and transporting about 238 000 learners across the province.

The department said that outstanding invoices for November would be processed and paid by the end of this week, and that full scholar transport operations are expected to resume from February 16.

However, it did not directly respond to questions about why service providers have allegedly gone unpaid for about four months or provide a detailed plan for payments beyond November 2025.

The statement also did not specify interim measures for learners while services remain suspended, nor did it outline a comprehensive payment timeline. It did, however, instruct schools to implement catch-up programmes to mitigate learning time lost due to the transport disruptions.

For families whose children were left stranded for days in underprivileged communities in Boksburg, including Delmore, Reiger Park, and surrounding informal settlements, the issue extends beyond administrative delays.

Parents said the disruption has caused their children to miss days of school days, added financial strain, and heightened concerns about their children’s safety.

While the department has committed to stabilising the programme, many in the affected community say they are still waiting for clear answers and concrete action to prevent future disruptions.

Crucially, the department did not respond to our question about who within the department is responsible for managing scholar transport payments, nor does it indicate whether any internal accountability measures will follow the disruption that left learners stranded.

With the protests entering their second day on Tuesday, the following roads remained closed:
• Commissioner Street and Elsburg Road across Reiger Park and Delmore
• Main Reef Road, from Angelo Hotel to Primrose
• Field Road in Lilianton
• Wit Deep Road (entire stretch) and part of Lower Boksburg Road on the Boksburg–Germiston border.

Also Read:UPDATE: Scholar transport protest escalates, more roads affected