Associations promote compliance among scholar transporters
“We brought together various members because we face issues with unqualified vehicles, those with foreign number plates, bakkies, and four-plus-one cars."
Four scholar transport associations, NETCO, CLASTA-45, Midrand Learner Transport Association (MLTA), and Ekurhuleni Northrand Scholar Transport Association (ENSTA), joined forces to host an expo promoting safer, government-compliant vehicles for disadvantaged scholar transport operators.
The event took place on March 22 at Birchleigh Football Club Fields, with Halfway Toyota Fourways in Johannesburg participating.
The forum aimed to tackle the issue of non-compliant vehicles in scholar transport.
ALSO READ: Organisation urges consumers to report non-compliance by service providers
Its primary goal was to provide operators with access to affordable, government-approved vehicles, gradually phasing out hazardous four-plus-one vehicles, small private cars, and vehicles with international or provincial number plates.
CLASTA-45 media liaison, Pule Makola, highlighted the dangers of using non-compliant vehicles, particularly in accidents.
“Non-compliant vehicles lack proper safety features, and in the event of an accident, some operators may abandon their responsibilities, leaving scholars and families vulnerable,” Makola explained.
By partnering with reputable car dealerships, the associations aim to ensure scholars travel safely and that operators comply with transport regulations.
ALSO READ: EMPD monitors compliance in scholar transport
Halfway Toyota Fourways sales executive, Klaas Ramoema, clarified that his role at the event was to educate associations on vehicle affordability and financing rather than selling cars.
“My role is to guide on how to afford and purchase compliant vehicles.
“The government is transitioning scholar transport to seven-seater or larger vehicles, replacing four-plus-one cars, private cars, and bakkies. I am here to teach, not to sell,” Ramoema said.
The expo marked a crucial step toward improving scholar transport safety, with associations committed to long-term industry improvements.
ENSTA public relations officer, Leshabe Rampedi, emphasized the need to eliminate ineligible vehicles from scholar transport.
“We brought together various members because we face issues with unqualified vehicles, those with foreign number plates, bakkies, and four-plus-one cars.
“We are working towards phasing them out responsibly. Today, we invited dealerships to help our members acquire compliant vehicles that meet Department of Roads and Transport regulations,” Rampedi said.
ALSO READ: City’s repeated non-compliance forces Eskom to take charge of load-shedding
He further noted that to transport children legally, an association must be registered with the Department of Roads and Transport, which only grants permits to operators using seven-seater vehicles.
Vans and private cars do not qualify.
The associations are mindful of longtime operators who have used private cars for over 20 years.
Rather than abruptly phasing them out, they aim to introduce them to seven-seater vehicles and help them transition while complying with regulations.
