GAUTENG — A comprehensive public transport crackdown in Gauteng has resulted in the identification of 103 unlicensed drivers, as the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) intensifies its #RemoveSkorokoro campaign to eliminate road safety risks and regulatory non-compliance across the province.
The GTI, operating in collaboration with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and additional law-enforcement agencies, executed targeted enforcement operations across the province’s major metropolitan municipalities. These operations specifically focused on high-risk public transport corridors, prioritizing vehicle roadworthiness, valid documentation, and strict adherence to driver regulations.
According to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT), inspectors documented persistent non-compliance among public transport operators and drivers during the recent reporting period. Authorities discovered 56 minibuses operating without valid licence discs and apprehended 103 drivers lacking valid driving licences. Furthermore, 17 minibus taxis were immediately discontinued after being deemed unroadworthy, presenting significant safety hazards to passengers and the broader public.
The GPDRT highlighted that enforcement teams identified critical safety defects during these inspections. Violations included compromised braking systems, worn tyres, non-functional headlights and brake lights, faulty indicators, and various other mechanical failures that rendered the vehicles unfit for public roads.
In addition to vehicle discontinuations and apprehensions, enforcement teams issued 809 handwritten Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) infringement notices, alongside 1,278 electronic infringement notices.
MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela commended the ongoing initiatives to secure Gauteng’s roadways. She emphasized that the continued presence of unlicensed drivers in the public transport sector unnecessarily endangers commuters and undermines provincial road safety objectives.
“The sustained flagging of unlicensed drivers in the public transport sector continues to put commuters and other road users at unnecessary risk. We reiterate that this is unacceptable and compromises the province’s road safety efforts,” Diale-Tlabela stated.
She affirmed that GTI officers will persist in taking decisive action against lawbreakers without fear or favour. Moving forward, the GTI, in partnership with the RTMC and other law-enforcement agencies, will continue to intensify enforcement operations to improve compliance and foster a safer public transport system throughout the province.
