The recent tragedy in the Vaal, where 14 children lost their lives in a scholar transport accident involving a driver with an expired professional driving permit (PDP) and a history of traffic violations, has put the spotlight firmly on the safety of scholar transport across the country.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) on January 26 carried out an intensive public transport enforcement operation in Diepsloot, targeting both commuter taxis and scholar transport to safeguard learners and all road users.

Read more: Taxi crash renews calls for JMPD to act on bad driving on Cedar Road

The operation was led by JMPD director Angie Mokasi, according to a media statement from the Metro police.
During the operation, officers uncovered several critical safety issues on vehicles that continue to plague public transport in the area.

Multiple vehicles were found carrying passengers and learners far beyond their legal capacity, while a significant number failed to meet basic safety standards.

Violations included expired vehicle licences, drivers without valid licences, and operators lacking professional driving permits.

Also read: JMPD recovers hit-and-run vehicle in Fourways

“As a result of these findings, 21 vehicles were impounded, and numerous citations and discontinuity notices were issued to non-compliant operators,” read a JMPD statement.

The department’s Community Outreach Unit also joined the enforcement teams to provide on-site education, engaging operators on the importance of road safety regulations and the legal requirements for transporting passengers.

Several learners were removed from non-compliant and overloaded vehicles.
“To ensure their education was not disrupted, JMPD officers personally transported these learners to their respective schools, ensuring they arrived safely and on time,” the statement added.

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