Thousands of Western Cape learners stranded after transport operators suspend services
Thousands of Western Cape learners were left without transport on Tuesday after SANSBOC-WC suspended services over rising diesel costs and an alleged lack of financial relief from the provincial education department.
On the first day of the final school term in the Western Cape, thousands of learners were left stranded due to suspended transport services. This occurred after the South African National Small Bus Operators Council (SANSBOC) announced the suspension of learner transport services on Monday, citing a lack of a meaningful response from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to address a financial crisis.
The WCED provides transportation for 607 routes and 71,247 learners, but the SANSBOC-WC has not received a satisfactory response regarding the urgent issue of diesel costs. Diesel prices have risen significantly, with projections suggesting they could increase by up to 80% by October 7, 2026. The Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation's Billy Claasen expressed outrage over the suspension, emphasizing that rural children's only means of reaching school is often through the school bus.
He called for urgent action from the Western Cape Government, specifically demanding that the Minister of Education, Jaco Londt, convene an emergency meeting to address the situation. The WCED has acknowledged the financial pressures faced by transport operators and is currently evaluating potential solutions within their budget constraints, with feedback expected on Friday.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
