Relief for parents: GDE confirms transport return and learner accommodation
GDE reassures parents that scholar transport will resume on February 16, and unplaced learners will be accommodated
Scholar transport back on track as GDE vows to place all learners
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has confirmed that scholar transport services across the province are expected to fully resume from Monday, February 16, following a constructive engagement with transport service providers.
The meeting, held on Tuesday, February 10, and led by Education MEC Matome Chiloane, included associations representing about 250 contracted operators, running about 3 600 buses and transporting an estimated 238 000 learners daily.
According to GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona, the engagement followed the suspension of services by some operators, which left learners unable to attend school.
“During discussions, outstanding matters within the department’s mandate were resolved, including confirmation that November 2025 outstanding invoices will be processed and paid by the end of the current week. The parties also agreed on processes relating to learner verification, including the department’s transition to a digitised system,” he said.
Mabona added that operators are committed to consulting their members on a phased resumption of services, with full normalisation expected from February 16.
Chiloane added that they acknowledge the frustration and distress experienced by learners, parents and communities during this period.
“The disruption of scholar transport services is not a situation we take lightly, and we regret the inconvenience caused.”
He added that the department remains confident that the resolutions reached will restore full services and protect learner safety and access to education.
Schools have been instructed to implement catch-up programmes from February 16 to recover lost learning time.
Learner fatalities under investigation
The department also expressed sadness over the deaths of two learners in separate incidents.
A Grade R learner from Bennet Isaacs Primary School in Coronationville passed away after sustaining injuries on school premises. In a separate incident, a Grade 12 learner from Vosloorus Comprehensive Secondary School reportedly fell ill during afternoon study on February 4 and later passed away while being transported from a medical facility to the hospital a day later.
Investigations into both incidents have been instituted.
Grade One and Grade Eight placements update
Mabona confirmed that the majority of Grade One and Grade Eight applicants have been placed in Gauteng public schools.
However, 1 174 learners remain unplaced, mainly due to capacity pressures in high-demand areas in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni.
Breakdown of unplaced learners:
• Grade One: 882
• Grade Eight: 292
Mabona said it is actively working to finalise outstanding placements.
“We wish to reassure parents that all qualifying learners will be accommodated.”
If your child has not yet been placed, contact the Randfontein Herald at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za or the Krugersdorp News at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za.
