- Operators of scholar transport in Mpumalanga often down tools because of late payment from Public Works, Roads and Transport
- Mpumalanga Government accused of failing to match rising operational costs of scholar transport operators
- Unemployed parents forced to contribute R50 for scholar transport
08 September 2026
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has written to both the provincial Departments of Education and Public Works, Roads & Transport asking them to urgently address scholar transport problems. This is after we found out that hundreds of learners from rural areas and townships are forced to walk long distances to school due to inconsistent or non-existent transport services, exposing them to safety risks, harsh weather, and unreliable vehicles.
Parents of learners from Hendrina are threatening to strike against both the above departments as there is no bus provided to transport their children to Nasaret Combined School and to other schools in Mhluzi Township. These learners have not been to school since last week.
Other affected learners are from Mkhulu Secondary School in Doornkop near Middelburg, Steve Tshwete Local Municipality. According to information gathered while doing an oversight recently, the DA found that the 455 learners out of the 1 140 enrolled at the school, cannot attend classes because the Mpumalanga Government can only provide eight out of the 15 buses requested by the school. Some of the unemployed parents are forced to contribute R50 for scholar transport.
The DA also found out that operators of scholar transport often down tools, leaving learners stranded because of late payment from the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport.
Just recently, it was reported that some learners from the villages around KaBokweni Township, were left stranded for over three days without scholar transport. Service providers went on strike accusing the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport of sidelining them on the new tender – in favour of service providers from outside Mpumalanga Province.
The DA will also be raising this matter with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) because under Section 29(c) of the South African Constitution, failure to provide adequate Scholar Transport to learners directly violates their constitutional right to basic education. The Constitution mandates government to provide scholar transport to learners who are living more than 5km from school.
A landmark judgement by the Makhanda High Court in the Eastern Cape affirmed on 17 December 2024, that the provision of scholar transport is a mandatory and integral component of the right to education. The Court ruled that the government is obligated to provide scholar transport to learners to access basic education as enshrined in Section 29(1) of the Constitution.