Tracy-Lynn Ruiters|Published
The Western Cape Education Department has approved temporary tariff relief for contracted learner transport operators following days of uncertainty over rising fuel costs and the sustainability of services.
Western Cape Education MEC Jaco Londt confirmed that the department would implement a temporary contract variation covering the second and third school quarters of 2026.
Under the relief package, operators will receive a 5% increase in the total monthly amount payable for services rendered during the second school quarter, as well as a 4.2% increase for services rendered during the third school quarter.
The announcement follows a dispute between the WCED and the South African National Small Bus Operators Council, Western Cape (SANSBOC-WC), which earlier this week suspended learner transport services for one day.
One-day suspension affected 21,934 learners
The disruption affected 21,934 learners on the first day of the fourth school term before operators agreed to resume services following talks with Londt and the department.
Londt said the relief was approved after engagements with learner transport stakeholders and an assessment of the impact of fuel price increases on operators.
“The Western Cape Education Department recognises the financial pressure that fuel price increases have placed on our contracted learner operators,” he said.
“We have therefore approved a temporary tariff relief, within the limits of our available budget, for the second and third school quarter.”
The department previously said it spends about R698 million in the 2026/27 financial year transporting more than 71,000 learners every school day.
Transport concerns raised during examination period
Londt said the intervention was aimed at helping maintain services while ensuring that public money was managed responsibly.
“This decision follows engagements with learner transport stakeholders and careful consideration of the impact of fuel price increases on the sustainability of learner transport services across the province, as well as budget availability,” he said.
“The Department remains committed to working constructively with learner transport operators and their representative bodies to ensure that learners continue to travel safely and reliably to school.”
The latest development brings temporary relief to a dispute that had raised concerns among parents, schools and rural communities, particularly where contracted learner transport is often the only practical way for children to reach school.
The timing of the agreement is also significant as the province enters the final examination period.
Long-term sustainability remains unresolved
Londt said more than 83,000 full-time and part-time candidates would sit for the National Senior Certificate examinations over the next two months, with many relying on public and contracted transport to reach examination venues.
He appealed to all parties to avoid further disruptions during the exam period.
“Every examination opportunity is vital. Should a candidate miss an examination, they may only have the opportunity to write that paper in the following year,” Londt said.
He warned that such delays could affect access to tertiary education and employment opportunities.
The temporary tariff increase addresses the immediate financial pressure faced by operators during the second and third quarters, but the longer-term sustainability of learner transport contracts and future fuel price increases will remain an issue requiring continued engagement between the WCED and transport operators.
For now, the department says its priority is to keep services running without further disruption as schools enter one of the most important periods of the academic year.
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