Ahead of the tabling of the 2026 National Budget, Parliament’s Standing Committee on Appropriations has raised concerns over the state of scholar transport in South Africa, calling for urgent national intervention to address longstanding safety concerns and systemic failures in the system.

Dr Mmusi Maimane, Chairperson of the committee, emphasised the need for a coordinated national approach to resolve the critical weaknesses in the scholar transport system, which, according to him, threatens both the safety of learners and their right to access education.

This comes after a recent tragic road accident that claimed the lives of 14 schoolchildren from Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng.

Maimane described the incident as a painful reminder of the dangers learners face on their way to school and reiterated that such tragedies should never occur.

“This tragedy should never have happened. The loss of young lives in this manner is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing,” he said. 

He extended his condolences to the affected families, communities, and schools.

He added that the accident highlighted the pressing need for reform in the scholar transport system.

He described the current state of scholar transport as a “critical weakness” that has been consistently highlighted in the committee’s oversight work.

“The committee has observed consistent patterns across provinces, including insufficient funding for scholar transport, limited coverage that forces learners to walk long distances, and the use of unsafe or unregulated private transport,” Maimane said.

Maimane pointed out that overcrowding, unroadworthy vehicles, and inadequately licensed drivers continue to be significant safety issues.

“Where transport is provided, there are ongoing concerns about overcrowding, unroadworthy vehicles and inadequately licenced drivers,” he said. 

Maimane stressed that these issues are putting learners at unacceptable risk and undermining their constitutional right to basic education. 

The committee believes that addressing these challenges cannot be left to provinces alone. Dr Maimane called for a multi-stakeholder approach involving national and provincial government departments to find long-term, sustainable solutions.

“These challenges cannot be addressed by provinces acting in isolation. We need a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach between national and provincial government departments,” he said.

Maimane emphasised that the committee is calling for immediate engagement with key government departments, including the Department of Transport, the Department of Basic Education, and all nine provincial MECs for Education, to address issues such as safety standards, funding adequacy, and regulatory oversight.

“The committee is of the firm view that public funding of scholar transport is a critical and urgent matter that requires coordinated national intervention,” he said.

Maimane has called on the Minister of Finance to consider the urgent need to strengthen funding and oversight for scholar transport when tabling the 2026 National Budget.

He warned that without prompt and decisive action, South Africa risks further preventable tragedies.

“We must work together to find long-term, sustainable solutions that ensure learner transport is safe, dependable, properly regulated, and adequately funded. If we fail to act with urgency, we risk more preventable tragedies like this one,” said Maimane. 

Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has encouraged South Africans to share their suggestions on the 2026 Budget.

The Minister will deliver the National Budget Speech on 25 February 2026, where he will outline all the financial, economic, and social commitments the government will prioritise in its planned expenditure.

National Treasury said the National Budget seeks to maintain a balance between South Africa’s fiscal framework, fund the priorities of the seventh administration, while mitigating the funding requirements’ impact on the poor and the middle-income households.

It aims to strike a balance between growing the economy and supporting the vulnerable amid limited resources.

“Minister Godongwana looks forward to your contributions,” said the National Treasury.

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

IOL Politics 

Source link