Unlicensed Scholar Transport Drivers Risk Fueling Taxi Violence In Gauteng, Traffic Department Warns

The Gauteng Traffic Department has cautioned that scholar transport drivers operating without valid permits could spark tensions within the province’s volatile taxi industry.

Officials say a significant number of scholar transport operators are still on the road without the required documentation, despite regulations governing their routes and operations.

Concerns were aired on Thursday at a road safety and compliance workshop for drivers in Pretoria, hosted by metro police officers. During the session, drivers expressed frustration over delays in the issuing of permits.

Gauteng Traffic Department Flags Permit Delays And Compliance Risks

According to the department, operating without permits is a serious compliance breach because the documents determine the specific routes scholar transport drivers are authorised to use.

Spokesperson Sello Maremane said the absence of proper permits can result in operators encroaching on routes allocated to other transport services, particularly minibus taxis.

When drivers do not adhere to designated routes, the risk of confrontation increases in an industry that has long been plagued by violence.

Taxi Industry Route Disputes Raise Safety Fears In Pretoria

Maremane warned that non-compliance could inflame existing tensions.

“We know that we have lost many of our minibus drivers as a result of taxi violence, so we don’t want to get there, so law enforcement won’t stop because there are problems here.”

He added that authorities are working to resolve issues that can be addressed in the short term, while maintaining that enforcement efforts will continue despite the challenges raised by operators.

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The department maintains that ensuring all scholar transport drivers are properly permitted is critical to maintaining order and preventing further conflict on Gauteng’s roads.