A shocking incident in KwaZulu-Natal has renewed national concerns about scholar transport safety. A taxi driver with a learner’s licence was arrested after a devastating crash that left 20 schoolchildren injured.
Third Scholar Transport Accident in Four Days
The crash occurred on Monday, 15 September 2025, on the P127 road near the KwaKhetha Bridge in Impendle, KwaZulu-Natal. According to local authorities, a minibus taxi plunged off the bridge, injuring learners from two high schools and a primary school.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, confirmed the accident is the third in four days in the Umgungundlovu District.
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Driver Fled the Scene After Crash
Eyewitnesses reported that the taxi driver fled the scene immediately after the taxi went off the bridge. Law enforcement tracked and arrested him later that day. Shockingly, he only held a learner’s licence and had no Professional Driving Permit (PrDP).
Taxi Driver With Learner’s Licence Arrested
“The driver has no driver’s licence. He violated the National Land Transport Act by transporting learners without a PrDP,” said MEC Duma.
The arrest has drawn strong public outrage and prompted urgent calls for tighter regulation in the scholar transport sector.
Vehicle Found to Be Unroadworthy
The minibus taxi involved was declared unroadworthy after inspection. Duma noted that such cases are not isolated, warning that many private scholar transport operators use vehicles in dangerous conditions.
“We will work to isolate those operating without valid roadworthy certificates,” Duma said.
Partnership to Improve Road Safety
The KZN Transport Department has partnered with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), a member of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI). This partnership will ensure that all minibuses are inspected at accredited testing centres across the province.
The new strategy includes:
- Mandatory biannual roadworthiness certificates (previously annual)
- Enforcement through independent audits
- Cross-checking route permits with vehicle inspections
SANTACO Urged to Act
Duma has also called on the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to play a stronger oversight role. He stressed the need for taxi associations to collaborate with authorities to improve compliance.
“We are calling on SANTACO in KwaZulu-Natal to come closer to these accidents involving taxi associations,” he stated.
Scholar Transport Accidents on the Rise
The Automobile Association of South Africa estimates that there are over 70,000 taxi crashes annually. Taxis have double the crash rate of private passenger vehicles.
The National Land Transport Act requires all public transport drivers to have a valid PrDP and for vehicles to pass stringent safety tests. However, enforcement remains inconsistent.
Learners Treated at Local Hospitals
The injured pupils were taken to Gomane Clinic and Harry Gwala Regional Hospital (Edendale). Some were discharged, while others remain in the hospital for further treatment.
MEC Promises Stricter Compliance
MEC Duma has vowed to introduce stricter compliance measures. This includes transparent reporting systems, random inspections, and prosecution of fraudulent certificate issuers.
Broader Reform for Scholar Transport
The Department of Transport is preparing a province-wide audit of all scholar transport vehicles. Officials plan to vet drivers, track permits, and assess vehicle safety before Transport Month in October.
Duma stated, “We will work in an integrated fashion to coordinate interventions that improve road safety.”
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Public Calls for Accountability
Public response has been swift, with many questioning how an unlicensed driver accessed a scholar transport vehicle. Civic groups are demanding that both the driver and vehicle owner face charges.
This incident highlights systemic failures in monitoring, licensing, and vehicle fitness in the scholar transport sector.
A Call to Protect Learners
The case of the taxi driver with a learner’s licence arrested after a crash that injures 20 pupils is a chilling reminder of the urgent need for reform.
Ensuring only qualified drivers and roadworthy vehicles are used in scholar transport is not optional — it is a life-saving necessity.
