19 Mar 2026

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa has told Parliament that the ministry remains committed to ensuring that all pre and primary schools operate in an environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. 

Answering a parliamentary question from Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Joseph Modise on Wednesday, Minister Motshegwa said the ministry continued to provide essential materials and equipment to all 773 public pre and primary schools across the country. 

He added that provision of transport in pre and primary schools was learner-centred and local authorities strived to provide vehicles whenever such services were needed. 

However, he said, provision of dedicated official motor vehicles to individual schools had not been possible due to prevailing budgetary constraints and competing national priorities. 

“While we acknowledge that access to reliable transport would enhance operational efficiency and support school based administrative and supervisory functions the current resource allocations do not permit the acquisition of vehicles for each school,” he said. 

Mr Motshegwa said the procedure was that schools operated under the administration of their respective district and city councils and did request for transport support from their councils through the offices of the education secretaries, in the same manner as other departments with local authorities. 

He said councils were responsible for coordinating and allocating available transport resources to support official duties, including those of schools. 

“It is not government’s policy to require teachers, like all other public officers, to use their personal vehicles for official duties and where official travel is authorised, it should be facilitated through existing council transport arrangements,” he added. 

Mr Modise had asked the minister to state when it would be possible to provide pre and primary schools with official vehicles considering that teachers used their vehicles for official duties. ENDS