Parliament, Wednesday, 11 March 2026 – Following a devastating road accident on 19 January 2026 involving a private scholar transport vehicle, in which the lives of 13 school children from the Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark areas were tragically lost, the Standing Committee on Appropriations today held a joint briefing between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Transport aimed at ensuring that young people’s safety is prioritised while in transit.
The committee also received a briefing from these departments on the 2026 Division of Revenue Bill and on the 2025/26 Special Appropriation Bill, learner transport programmes, school infrastructure backlogs and funding allocations within the transport sector.
The committee Chairperson, Dr Mmusi Maimane, said it is important for Parliament to ensure that public spending translates into meaningful improvements in service delivery. “Our responsibility is to ensure that public funds are used effectively and that programmes designed to support learners and commuters deliver real outcomes on the ground,” said Mr Maimane.
The committee must examine whether the current approach to learner transport is sustainable, he said. “The current model identifies learners in need and then attempts to provide transport. We must begin asking whether South Africa should move towards a broader approach where learner transport becomes part of basic education infrastructure,” he said.
The committee also raised concerns about the lack of uniformity in how learner transport is implemented across provinces, noting that in some provinces, the programme is managed by the Department of Transport while in others it falls under the Department of Education.
The committee also highlighted ongoing infrastructure challenges in the basic education sector, including overcrowded classrooms and inadequate facilities in some schools. Mr Maimane said the committee will also closely monitor how infrastructure funds are spent to ensure that projects are completed and that learners benefit from improved learning environments. “We must ensure that the funds allocated for infrastructure result in better schools, safer facilities and improved learning conditions for our children,” he said.
Lastly, the committee called for stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that funding allocated to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa delivers improved rail services and value for money.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, DR MMUSI MAIMANE.
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