The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) provides an update following a constructive engagement between the Department and representatives of scholar transport service providers, convened as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the Scholar Transport Programme and restore uninterrupted access to education for learners across the province.
The meeting, led by the MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, involved associations representing
approximately 250 contracted scholar transport service providers, operating an estimated 3 600
buses and transporting about 238 000 learners daily across Gauteng.
The engagement followed the suspension of services by some operators and was aimed at urgently
resolving the impasse that had resulted in learners being unable to attend school through the scholar
transport programme.
The discussions were extensive and frank, with all parties acknowledging that the continued disruption of learner transport was untenable and not in the best interest of learners, parents or communities.
The engagement ultimately resulted in a shared commitment to normalise services while outstanding
matters are addressed through the appropriate administrative and financial processes.
Outcome of Engagements with Service Providers
During the engagement, service providers outlined a number of concerns previously raised through
their associations. Of the issues presented, some fell outside the mandate of the education sector and were accordingly clarified as matters that must be addressed with the relevant departments.
Importantly, the Department and service providers were able to resolve all matters falling within the
GDE’s mandate, including:
- Resolution of payment matters, including confirmation that outstanding invoices for November
2025 will be processed and paid by the end of the current week. - Agreement on processes related to learner verification and confirmation of transported learners,
including clarity on the learner verification forms currently signed at schools and the
Department’s transition towards a digitised system.
Resumption of Scholar Transport Services
Following these resolutions, scholar transport operators committed to go consult with their members
on a phased resumption of services, taking into account the logistical challenges associated with
the earlier suspension, including the temporary removal of vehicles for safety and asset protection
reasons.
In principle, full scholar transport operations across the province are expected to resume from
Monday, 16 February 2026, marking the return to normal service delivery
Commitment to Learner Safety and Accountability
While engagements continue, we remain deeply concerned about the impact of service disruptions on learners, including academic setbacks and exposure to unsafe transport alternatives. the Department has instructed schools to implement catch-up programmes effective Monday, 16 February 2026, to mitigate any learning time lost as a result of transport disruptions. Schools have been advised to utilise appropriate academic recovery measures to ensure that teaching and learning remains on track.
“We acknowledge the frustration and distress experienced by learners, parents and communities during this period. The disruption of scholar transport services is not a situation we take lightly, and we regret the inconvenience caused. We are encouraged by the progress made and remain confident that the resolutions reached will lead to the full normalisation of scholar transport services across Gauteng, ensuring that learner safety, dignity and access to education remain protected at all times,” said MEC Chiloane.
“We wish to thank scholar transport service providers for the positive outlook demonstrated during the engagement, as well as their willingness to work with the Department in the best interests of learners. We further call on all stakeholders within the scholar transport sector to maintain open and continuous engagement with the Department should any challenges or concerns arise, so that these can be addressed through the appropriate channels without disrupting schooling or compromising learners’ access to education,” said MEC Chiloane.
LEARNER FATALITIES: UPDATE ON RECENT INCIDENTS
The Gauteng Department of Education is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of learners in two
separate incidents. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the affected families, school communities and peers, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that all incidents are thoroughly investigated.
Incident 1: Grade R Learner – Bennet Isaacs Primary School, Coronationville
In the first incident, a Grade R boy learner learner from Bennet Isaacs Primary School in
Coronationville, Johannesburg, tragically passed away after sustaining injuries on school
premises.
Incident 2: Grade 12 Learner – Vosloorus Comprehensive Secondary School, EkurhuleniI n a separate incident, the Department notes with sadness the passing of a Grade 12 learner from Vosloorus Comprehensive Secondary School in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, who allegedly fell ill during afternoon study sessions on Wednesday, 4 February 2026, between 15h00 and 17h00. At approximately 15h20, the learner was reported sick in class and was immediately accompanied by the monitoring teacher to the sick bay, where she was monitored by school staff.
On the morning of 5 February 2026, at approximately 07h20, the school was informed that the
learner had tragically passed away while being transported from a medical facility to hospital.
The Department has instituted investigations into both matters, and the outcomes will be communicated in due course once all processes have been concluded.
UPDATE ON GRADE 1 AND GRADE 8 LEARNER PLACEMENTS IN GAUTENG
The Gauteng Department of Education hereby provides an update on the 2026 Online Admissions process for Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners, including progress on placements, late applications and capacity interventions.
Current Placement Status
The majority of learners who applied for placement in Gauteng for Grade 1 and Grade 8 have
already been successfully placed in public schools across the province.As of today, 1 174 learners remain unplaced, largely due to capacity pressures in high-demand areas, particularly in the Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metros. While placement at preferred schools may not always be immediately possible, we are actively working with schools to identify available spaces and finalise outstanding placements as a matter of urgency.
Unplaced learners by grade:
Grade 1: 882 learners
Grade 8: 292 learners
We wish to reassure parents that all qualifying learners will be accommodated, and ongoing
engagements with schools aim to ensure fair and timely placement.
