Transport and Public Works

Yes.  Preventative measures have been put in place to address the safety of learners as far as possible.  In providing the relevant details, it is important to understand the differing contexts of learner transport.  Although the question refers only to taxis, these constitute only one of the means by which learners travel.

Firstly, there are formal learner transport services contracted to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) that are operated with approved buses.  These vehicles operate in terms of the relevant WCED policy.

In this instance, the WCED has provided schools and operators with a hotline number (0800 45 46 47) which contracted learner transport operators are required to display on the backs of their buses and members of the public can call this number to lodge complaints of, inter alia, overloading, dangerous driving, unsafe vehicles and other concerns.

Furthermore, the formal learner transport scheme makes provision for the appointment of an educator as a transport officer at schools.  This officer is tasked to report all learner transport irregularities to the WCED and law enforcement issues to Provincial Traffic. These complaints are followed up and learner transport operators are charged for the offences. Operators found guilty of such offences also face possible cancellation of their learner transport contracts with the WCED

Secondly, operators can be informally “contracted” by a parent or group of parents to transport learners to school.  Taxis are generally used in such cases.  The Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) regularly addresses operators who operate such services to assist them with the legalisation of their operations, including ensuring that operators have valid operating licences, roadworthy vehicles and qualified drivers.

The PRE also regularly addresses school principals and governing bodies at their invitation to inform teachers, parents and operators of the legal requirement for such learner transport operations. 

Besides heightening the awareness of parents and teachers to the dangers of their children travelling in overloaded vehicles, Provincial Traffic Services also regularly stop and check vehicles being used to transport learners.  Aspects inspected include overloading, roadworthiness and transport documentation. Should any vehicle transporting learners be found to be overloaded, the relevant summons would be issued and the vehicle prohibited from continuing.

Thirdly, taxis that are operating general public transport commuter services are also used by learners to get to school.  Safety from overloading in these instances is dealt with through usual commuter service law enforcement operations.

Finally, learner transport services are provided by some schools with vehicles that are owned by the school.  This mostly applies to schools with learners with special education needs.  The PRE has worked with the WCED to provide advice and support to these schools to ensure that their services are provided within the applicable legal frameworks.  Overloading of these vehicles has not been highlighted as a risk.