Scholar transport services in Gauteng are set to restart next week following a breakthrough in negotiations between the provincial Department of Education and bus operators.
Transport providers had suspended operations after claiming they had not been paid for three consecutive months. The service stoppage left thousands of learners without reliable transport and triggered protests from angry parents, some of whom blocked roads in affected communities.
Education MEC Matome Chiloane announced that both parties have now reached a settlement, including a revised payment framework aimed at preventing similar disruptions in future.
Although existing service agreements require the department to settle invoices within 30 days, financial pressures have made this difficult. Chiloane said discussions have led to a mutually acceptable payment structure that accommodates the department’s fiscal limitations while ensuring operators are paid within agreed timelines.
The resolution brings relief to families who rely on scholar transport, with the department assuring the public that measures are in place to protect learners from further interruptions.
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