The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, together with multiple stakeholders, visited Horizon View Primary on January 19, as part of the department’s 2026 back-to-school campaign.

According to Delicia Kgage, the director of Registration and Monitoring at the department, the aim was to focus on scholar transport safety and ensuring that drivers adhere to the rules and regulations of the road.

She added that this operation also seeks to encourage parents to continuously teach and remind their children about practising road safety.

“We are here to advocate for safety and also assess the status of the vehicles. We then assist where possible and raise overall safety awareness to drivers in terms of document validation, etc. That is why we have the licensing department and law enforcement agencies,” she said.

Stakeholders involved included Roodepoort police, JMPD, Gauteng Provincial Community Safety, learner transport operators, Emergency Services, and the City of Johannesburg Licensing Department.

During the discussions, the stakeholders from each department encouraged and emphasised the point of safety to the drivers, including adhering to road rules, working as a collective, and maintaining discipline.

Mpho Manyabeane from Gauteng Provincial Community Safety emphasised, “Drivers need to stop overloading and adhere to road rules and signs. We understand it’s business, but overloading to maximise profit is not allowed.”

The drivers also voiced their challenges on the road, citing potholes, heavy vehicles, and the lengthy process of obtaining permits as major concerns.