As thousands of learners prepare to return to school for the third term on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, the Western Cape Department of Mobility is offering free vehicle safety checks for scholar transport and public transport operators until Thursday, 23 July 2026.

The inspections will take place between 8am and 3pm at the Gene Louw Traffic College and participating vehicle testing centres across the province. Drivers and operators are encouraged to have their vehicles checked before resuming their regular transport services.

The department emphasises that the inspections are not full roadworthy tests, but practical safety assessments conducted by qualified vehicle examiners. The inspections will focus on key safety features, including tyres, brakes, lights, suspension, CV joints, exhaust systems and windscreen wipers. After the inspection, operators will receive a report highlighting any defects or safety concerns that require attention.

Western Cape Mobility Department Chief Director for Traffic Management, Maxine Bezuidenhout, says the initiative comes at an important time as scholars return to school.

“For many families, scholar transport is an essential service that they trust every day. These free vehicle safety checks provide operators with an opportunity to identify and address potential safety concerns.”

 

Meanwhile, Chairperson and spokesperson for the Mitchell’s Plain Scholar Transport Association, Denver van Aarde, says while the association welcomes the initiative, the timing means many drivers will not be able to take advantage of the free inspections.

“We have spoken to the Department of Mobility on numerous occasions, stressing that the timing of this initiative comes at a time when many of our drivers are still on holiday or making their way back home, especially those who travelled to the Eastern Cape or the Northern Cape. We will engage the Minister of Mobility to see whether another round of free testing can be arranged, perhaps a week from now, to accommodate drivers who were not in the province during this initiative.”

 

Bezuidenhout encourages scholar transport and public transport operators to make full use of the free service.

“We encourage every scholar transport and public transport operator to make use of this free service and demonstrate their commitment to the safety of the passengers they transport.”

She adds that preventative vehicle maintenance remains one of the most effective ways to reduce breakdowns and prevent avoidable crashes. By identifying faults early, drivers and operators can improve the safety and reliability of the vehicles that thousands of learners and commuters depend on every day.