The government has ordered district councils to immediately stop using donkey carts to transport schoolchildren, ending a programme introduced a decade ago to assist learners in remote communities.
In a savingram dated 11 February 2026, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Kabo Moseki instructed council secretaries and town clerks to replace donkey carts with transport that meets current safety and child-protection standards.
The initiative was introduced in 2016 as an interim measure to assist learners living more than five kilometres from school, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where conventional transport was unavailable or unreliable.
“The donkey cart initiative was introduced in 2016 as an interim measure to assist learners residing more than five kilometres from schools, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where conventional transport was not readily accessible,” Moseki said.
According to the ministry, the programme helped reduce the distances children had to walk and improved school attendance in underserved communities.
“Government has since reviewed this arrangement in light of evolving safety standards, child protection considerations, and the need to provide dignified, reliable, and secure transport solutions for learners,” Moseki wrote.
However, a government review concluded that the arrangement no longer meets contemporary expectations around learner safety and child welfare.
“Government has since reviewed this arrangement in light of evolving safety standards, child protection considerations, and the need to provide dignified, reliable, and secure transport solutions for learners,” Moseki wrote.
“Following this review, it has been directed that the use of donkey carts for transporting school children must cease with immediate effect.”
District councils have been instructed to identify and deploy alternative transport that complies with road safety regulations and child-protection requirements.
The ministry said replacement services must prioritise learner safety, roadworthiness, reliability, adequate insurance, licensed operators and accountability mechanisms.
Councils have also been directed to conduct rapid assessments of affected areas and submit reports within 14 days detailing the number of learners previously transported by donkey cart and the alternatives now in place.
“The Ministry remains committed to ensuring equitable access to education while upholding the safety, dignity, and welfare of all learners,” Moseki said.
The directive does not indicate how replacement transport will be funded or whether additional financial support will be provided to councils during the transition.
