North West Adds R70M to School Transport

North West province reallocates R70M to cover school transport payment backlogs from April-December

North West Adds R70M to School Transport Budget

South Africa's North West province is reallocating R70 million to address a critical school transport crisis affecting thousands of students, transit officials said. The funds will cover payment backlogs from April to December and stabilize a system that's struggled with operator terminations and budget shortfalls. The Department of Community Safety and Transport previously had to redirect R36 million from its commuter budget to pay urgent salaries in December and January.

Safety Violations Triggered Operator Removals

The crisis stems from widespread safety violations that forced the province to terminate contracts with 90 school transport operators earlier this year, out of 449 operators appointed in January 2024. Over the past two years, approximately one in five operators were removed for violating service level agreements, including operating unroadworthy vehicles and reckless conduct. The South African Human Rights Commission released a report on the situation, which MEC Wessels Morweng addressed. A contingency panel of operators was established to prevent service disruptions following the terminations.

Budget Gap Leaves Routes Underserved

The current annual school transport budget of R460 million is insufficient, with R610 million required to adequately service all routes, according to the transit agency. That R150 million shortfall has left some routes underserved and contributed to payment delays that sparked protests outside the legislature. Technical errors have caused delayed wage payments to North West Transport Investment workers, prompting the Motor Industry Staff Association to call for government accountability. The department is working with Provincial Treasury to increase funding and prevent starting the new financial year with accumulated debt.

Funds Will Cover Nine-Month Backlog

The R70 million reallocation in the 2025/26 second adjustment budget will cover payment backlogs accumulated from April through December, officials said. The department didn't provide a specific timeline for when all outstanding payments will be processed or when the system will be fully stabilized. Officials said they're prioritizing payments to operators who've maintained service despite the financial difficulties.

Students Face Ongoing Service Uncertainty

Students and families continue to face uncertainty about school transport reliability as the province works to stabilize the system. Officials said they're committed to ensuring all eligible students have access to safe, reliable transport, though they didn't specify how long the stabilization process will take. Moovit provides real-time transit updates for public transport systems across South Africa, helping riders plan their journeys.