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49 children found in overloaded Cape Town scholar taxi, driver charged
What should have been a routine school run turned into a disturbing scene in Cape Town this week, when law enforcement officers stopped a scholar transport taxi and watched nearly 50 children climb out of the vehicle.
The incident unfolded outside a primary school in Mitchells Plain during a Transport Enforcement Unit operation. Officers expected a standard compliance check. Instead, they were met with a vehicle so overcrowded that officials later described the moment as shocking.
A routine stop that raised serious alarm
According to Cape Town traffic authorities, the taxi was stopped during a scheduled enforcement operation targeting scholar transport. When officers asked the children to disembark, at least 49 learners poured out of the vehicle.
The driver was immediately charged for operating without a permit and for overloading. The vehicle was impounded on the spot, and alternative transport was arranged to ensure the children could get home safely.
City traffic spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said the situation posed a serious risk, not only to the children inside the taxi but also to other road users. Overloading, he warned, significantly reduces a driver’s ability to control a vehicle in emergencies.
A problem that keeps repeating itself
While the Cape Town incident has sparked outrage, it is far from isolated. Across the country, scholar transport has come under intense scrutiny following a string of enforcement operations and tragic crashes.
Just last month in Lenasia, an inspection blitz uncovered a Suzuki Ertiga licensed for seven passengers carrying 14 schoolchildren. In the same operation, a bus approved for 60 learners was stopped after officers counted 98 children on board.
Earlier this year, Gauteng’s Department of Roads and Transport revealed that pre-test inspections showed 94 percent of scholar transport vehicles failed to meet basic roadworthy standards. These findings paint a worrying picture of an industry struggling with compliance.
Tragedy brings national focus
Public concern around scholar transport safety has intensified following a fatal crash on the R553 Golden Highway near Vanderbijlpark, where 14 children lost their lives after a head-on collision with a truck. A 22-year-old scholar transport driver was later arrested in connection with the incident.
In the aftermath, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa acknowledged that weak enforcement has left scholar transport services dangerously exposed.
Their comments echoed what many parents and educators have been saying for years. Oversight is inconsistent, and enforcement often only ramps up after lives are lost.
Parents demand accountability
On social media, reactions to the Cape Town incident were swift and emotional. Parents expressed disbelief that so many children could be packed into one vehicle, while others questioned how often similar situations go unnoticed.
For many families, scholar transport is not a luxury but a necessity, especially in communities where schools are far from home. That reality, however, does not excuse putting children at risk.
What happens next
Cape Town law enforcement has reiterated its commitment to ongoing operations targeting non-compliant scholar transport operators. Officials say drivers who ignore regulations will face impoundments and criminal charges.
For parents, the incident serves as a stark reminder to ask tough questions about the vehicles transporting their children. For authorities, it is yet another warning that enforcement alone may not be enough without sustained monitoring and accountability.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear. Scholar transport safety is no longer a background issue. It is a national concern demanding urgent and consistent action.
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Source: The Citizen
Featured Image: Wheel Well
