Scholar transport drivers plead for 3 to 6 -month grace to get their permits

Learner transport drivers are asking government for a lifeline a three to six-month grace period to get their permits in order. More than 200 operators descended on the Transport Department this week, saying they want to comply with the law but are being held back by slow systems and paperwork backlogs. The appeal comes just days after a major law-enforcement crackdown saw over 60 scholar transport vehicles impounded a move sparked by a devastating crash that killed 14 schoolchildren. While drivers insist safety matters to them too, they argue compliance needs to be realistic. Authorities, however, remain firm: safety is non-negotiable. Phemelo speaks to Gauteng Education Transport Services spokesperson Pilane Ramarutsi.