Mamelodi pupils risk lives on overloaded school buses

Pupils from several schools in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, say they do not feel safe on buses contracted by the Gauteng department of education to transport them to school at no cost.

- Warren Mabona

They say the buses are chronically overloaded. GroundUp confirmed this, observing buses on different routes on various days throughout February.

On Tsamaya Avenue, pupils were seen standing on the steps with the doors open. The aisles were crammed with standing passengers.

Most of the buses had no visible branding, making it difficult to identify the operators. One bus bore the name Besedi Bus Hire.