School run or death ride: Parents raise alarm

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Local parents have raised their concerns over learner transport safety in Mossel Bay following recent incidents of a grossly overloaded minibus taxi transporting children to Mossel Bay schools and video footage showing a school bus travelling with its folding door open, presumably broken.

A parent and local community activist, Faizell Porter, who posted the footage of the bus with the open door on his social media last week, told Mossel Bay Advertiser the parents, especially those whose children were travelling on that bus, are worried about the safety of the kids, and that they are “travelling in a deathtrap”.

Porter claimed the open door was not the only concern.

He said the bus transports children from the Herbertsdale area and surrounding communities to schools in Mossel Bay.

He said some other concerns about learner transport safety, lodged by himself and several other parents to the authorities, include the vehicle not being roadworthy, the driver allegedly sometimes being under the influence and that children are dropped off along the N2 and other risky places without adult supervision.

Queries have been sent to the relevant authorities about what is being done about these incidents and to ensure similar situations do not continue in the future.

The Western Cape Education Department’s (WCED) spokesperson, Bronagh Hammond, confirmed an investigation into the latest incident of unsafe public school transport is under way.

Hammond said 10 schools in the greater Mossel Bay area make use of officially registered learner transport.

“About 809 learners are transported daily using about 27 registered vehicles, including buses and minibus taxis,” she said.

She added that all the vehicles contracted by the WCED are required to undergo roadworthy inspections every six months and comply with strict seating capacity requirements, and valid licences for them must be submitted.

The Mossel Bay Vehicle Testing Station’s manager, Dirk Nienaber, confirmed that vehicles transporting learners are regularly inspected.

“Taxi drivers must renew their roadworthy permits annually, but we see these vehicles almost daily,” he said, noting that five or six taxis had been tested on Monday alone.

The municipal spokesperson, Cornelle Carstens, said since the start of 2026, the Mossel Bay Traffic Services have stopped 55 public transport vehicles during scholar transport focused operations, resulting in multiple fines, licence-related offences and six vehicle impoundments.

She said the impoundment fees start at R7 500 and escalate for repeat offenders, with the possibility of suspension or cancellation of operating licences.

The Western Cape Mobility Minister, Isaac Sileku, warned that unregulated and illegal learner transport poses the greatest risk to children.

“One extra passenger can cost a life,” he said, urging parents to avoid unsafe transport arrangements and to report illegal operators.

Parents or caregivers with safety concerns are encouraged to contact the Mossel Bay Traffic Services on 044 606 5201 or the Western Cape Mobility Department on 0860 142 142.

Previous articles:

• Department to investigate Mossel Bay school bus operated with ‘broken’, open door
• Mossel Bay taxi transporting 40 learners impounded

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