KZN MEC Orders Urgent Audit of Private Scholar Transport After Latest Pietermaritzburg Crash

KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma has ordered an urgent audit of private scholar transport across the Umgungundlovu District following another accident in Pietermaritzburg that left four learners injured. The crash occurred in Northdale, Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 22 September 2025, when a speeding minibus taxi driver lost control of his vehicle and slammed into guardrails.

The driver has been reported to have fled the scene of a crash. This is the third incident in Pietermaritzburg in less than two weeks. In a statement, Duma condemned the incidents, describing as “virtual impunity” enjoyed by some scholar transport operators who routinely flout traffic rules. “Clearly, some scholar transport drivers and operators in Pietermaritzburg are enjoying virtual impunity for the violation of traffic rules. As the Department of Transport, we are left with no option but to take drastic action to deal with this anarchy,” Duma said.

Duma has instructed the department to collaborate with all municipalities under Umgungundlovu District to conduct a comprehensive audit of private scholar transport. He said the process will also involve the Department of Education, school governing bodies, the South African National Taxi Council, and other key stakeholders to ensure learner transport remains safe and uninterrupted. The MEC also raised concerns about the issuing of fraudulent roadworthiness certificates to minibus taxis that are clearly unfit for the road. “In this regard, we will work with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA).

As announced last week, we have agreed to work together to isolate elements that are operating vehicles without roadworthy certificates and to ensure that those issuing fraudulent certificates are arrested,” Duma said. Other areas of collaboration with the VTA involve the introduction of reforms such as: • Strengthen legislation governing the taxi and scholar transport industry, with clear provisions on driver vetting, vehicle standards, and operational oversight. • Enforcing stricter compliance and accountability measures across the province, supported by transparent reporting and independent audits. • Require biannual Certificates of Roadworthiness for all heavy passenger vehicles, replacing the current annual requirement. • Ensure that all minibuses are inspected within the KZN province at accredited municipal or private testing facilities, and in alignment with their designated route permits.

Recent Surge in Scholar Transport Accidents

The latest crash in Northdale adds to a worrying pattern of scholar transport incidents in Pietermaritzburg and the broader Umgungundlovu District. On Monday, a minibus taxi carrying learners lost control while travelling along a busy road, crashing into guardrails and injuring four pupils. Emergency services responded promptly, with the injured taken to nearby hospitals for treatment of minor to moderate wounds, including cuts and bruises. The driver, who allegedly fled the scene, remains at large, prompting police to launch a manhunt. Investigations are underway to determine if speed, mechanical failure, or other factors contributed, with witnesses reporting the vehicle was overloaded—a common issue in the sector.

This marks the third such accident in the area in under two weeks, raising alarms about safety standards. Just days earlier, on 15 September 2025, another minibus taxi crashed in Mpendle, injuring 20 learners when the driver lost control on a steep hill. That vehicle was found to be unroadworthy, with worn brakes and tyres, highlighting systemic problems. Before that, on 11 September 2025, a devastating incident in Imbali Township saw a Toyota Siyaya minibus veer off T22 Road, strike a tree, and plough into Senzokuhle Pre-School, initially killing four learners. Tragically, a fifth victim, 15-year-old Nomalanga Ndawonde from Zibukezulu High School, succumbed to severe brain injuries on 18 September 2025 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.

These back-to-back tragedies have left communities reeling, with parents demanding accountability. In the Imbali crash, 11 other learners were hospitalised, some with life-changing injuries like spinal damage. The driver there also fled but was later arrested, facing charges of culpable homicide. Mechanical inspections revealed brake failure, but questions linger about how the vehicle passed roadworthy tests.

Duma’s Strong Condemnation and Call for Action

MEC Siboniso Duma did not mince words in his response, labelling the situation as “anarchy” and pointing to a culture of impunity among some operators. “Clearly, some scholar transport drivers and operators in Pietermaritzburg are enjoying virtual impunity for the violation of traffic rules,” he said. Duma, who has been vocal on road safety since his appointment, stressed that the department can no longer tolerate such recklessness, which endangers young lives daily.

The audit, to be conducted across all municipalities in Umgungundlovu—including Msunduzi, uMshwathi, and Richmond—will scrutinise vehicle conditions, driver qualifications, and compliance with route permits. It aims to identify rogue operators and enforce standards, potentially leading to licence revocations. Duma has mobilised an integrated team, including the Department of Education for learner data, school governing bodies for oversight, and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) for industry buy-in.
This collaborative approach ensures minimal disruption to schooling while prioritising safety. Education officials will assist in verifying transport contracts, many of which are private arrangements between parents and operators, outside government-subsidised schemes.

Tackling Fraudulent Roadworthy Certificates

A core concern raised by Duma is the prevalence of fake roadworthiness certificates, allowing unroadworthy vehicles to operate. “The MEC also raised concerns about the issuing of fraudulent roadworthiness certificates to minibus taxis that are clearly unfit for the road,” per the statement. In the Mpendle crash, the minibus had a certificate despite obvious defects, pointing to corruption at testing stations.

To combat this, Duma announced partnerships with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), a non-profit representing over 400 private testing stations. “In this regard, we will work with the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA). As announced last week, we have agreed to work together to isolate elements that are operating vehicles without roadworthy certificates and to ensure that those issuing fraudulent certificates are arrested,” he said.
The VTA, in response to recent crashes, has condemned corruption in testing, calling for stricter oversight. Reforms include:

• Strengthening legislation for the taxi and scholar transport industry, with provisions on driver vetting (including criminal checks), vehicle standards (age limits under 15 years), and operational oversight (GPS tracking).
• Enforcing stricter compliance through transparent reporting and independent audits, with random spot-checks by RTI.
• Requiring biannual Certificates of Roadworthiness for heavy passenger vehicles, replacing the annual system to catch issues early.
• Ensuring all minibuses are inspected within KZN at accredited facilities, aligned with route permits to prevent overloading on unsuitable roads.
  These measures could set a national precedent, as similar issues plague other provinces like Gauteng, where 20 scholar deaths occurred in 2024 crashes.
  Support for Affected Families and Broader Implications
  In the wake of the Imbali tragedy, Duma extended condolences to the Ndawonde family, deploying support teams for counselling and funeral aid. “We were nursing hope that she was going to survive and rejoin her Grade 9 classmates. Sadly, she has left us,” he said. An integrated response team, including Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane for medical support, Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka for school counselling, and local mayors Mzi Zuma and Mzimkhulu Thebolla for community assistance, has been activated.
  The four other learners killed in Imbali were laid to rest last week, with funerals attended by officials. This multi-departmental effort aims to provide holistic care, including psychological support for survivors and classmates.
  Broader implications include calls from the VTA and road safety groups like Arrive Alive for nationwide reforms. The VTA has pledged to root out corrupt testers, potentially leading to station closures. Parents and unions like Sadtu demand government-subsidised transport for all learners, as private operators often cut corners to maximise profits.

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