Parents stay vigilant how your children are transported
CCN Editor – George April
Cape Peninsula:- The recent incident in Mitchells Plain, where City of Cape Town Traffic Services impounded an overloaded taxi carrying 49 children outside a primary school, is a stark reminder of the ongoing risks in scholar transport.
The driver was charged with operating without a permit, overloading, and lacking a Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) – all serious violations that put young lives in danger. Overloading severely compromises safety, as it affects vehicle control, braking, and increases the risk of accidents that can harm not only the children inside but also other road users.
This comes on the heels of an even more heartbreaking tragedy in Gauteng province (Vanderbijlpark area, south of Johannesburg) in January 2026, where a minibus taxi transporting schoolchildren collided with a truck, initially claiming at least 13 young lives (with reports later confirming up to 14 after some succumbed to injuries in hospital). Although that happened in another province, the underlying issues, such as unsafe, unregulated, or overloaded scholar transport vehicles, are unfortunately a nationwide reality in South Africa.
“To all parents and guardians:”
Please stay vigilant about how your children are transported to and from school. Scholar transport safety is non-negotiable, especially now. Here are key steps to prioritize:
– Insist on seeing proof that the driver has a valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP)” specifically for transporting passengers (including children).
– Check that the vehicle has a current “operating permit” for scholar transport from the relevant authorities.
– Never allow your child to travel in an overloaded vehicle, there should be a safe seat for every learner, with proper seatbelts if fitted.
– Ask about the vehicle’s roadworthiness, regular maintenance, and whether it meets basic safety standards (e.g., no overcrowding, functional brakes, tires, lights).
– If possible, verify the route and driver details, and encourage your child to report any concerns (like reckless driving or too many passengers).
– Consider safer alternatives where feasible, such as school buses with proper oversight, walking groups, or carpooling with trusted families.
Overloading and unlicensed operations turn what should be a routine school trip into a life-threatening situation. These risks are real and have cost far too many families their children.
A huge thank you to the City Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, and all officers across the country who are actively clamping down on these dangerous practices through enforcement operations. Their continued efforts to impound unsafe vehicles, issue fines, and ensure compliance are vital to protecting our kids. Let’s support them by reporting suspicious or unsafe scholar transport when we see it.
Our children’s safety must come first, always stay alert, ask questions, and demand better standards.
No parent should ever have to endure the pain of losing a child to preventable road dangers.