Parklands High principal confronts scholar transport drivers after alleged alcohol incident with learners in Alberton

On 6 August 2026, just before midday during school hours, members of the Greater Alberton Education Transport Co-operative Limited (GAETCOI) confronted scholar transport drivers and a group of schoolgirls in an open parking area used by scholar transport vehicles. The location is situated between the Alberton Civic Centre and Ring Road East in Alberton.

GAETCOI members found three adult males sitting in a minibus taxi with about 10 schoolgirls. One of the girls was wearing civilian clothing while the others were in school uniform. The association’s members observed the group allegedly drinking alcohol inside the vehicle. Alberton SAPS and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers were called to the scene. The driver of the vehicle had just left it when authorities arrived.

Fikile Mogashoa of GAETCOI stated that the association found schoolgirls inside the transport vehicle drinking alcohol during school hours. He said it is the association’s responsibility to ensure learner safety from the time a child leaves home until they return. Mogashoa indicated that the group decided to call the police and the principal of the affected school. He added that if similar behaviour is observed involving drivers and learners from other schools in Alberton, the association will address those cases as well.

The learners involved are understood to be from Parklands High School. Parklands High principal Robert Brown attended the scene. He was visibly upset and confronted the scholar transport drivers while they were detained in a police vehicle. Brown repeatedly shouted questions at them, including: “You’re trying to impress 14-year-olds, for what? Why are you in the car with 14-year-olds?!”

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered a crate of beer, a five-litre container of wine, and plastic cups. The vehicle’s owner was summoned to the scene. The driver and the learners were taken to the Alberton Police Station. An officer collected contact details of the learners’ parents.

Parklands High principal confronts transport drivers after being caught drinking during school hours with school girls as young as 14 in Alberton. pic.twitter.com/3kd8kGYCpZ

— PrimeTime News (@PrimeTimeNewsZA) August 9, 2026

Video footage of the confrontation between principal Robert Brown and the detained drivers circulated online shortly after the incident. No further official statements regarding charges, outcomes of any investigation, or subsequent actions by the school, police, or transport authorities were detailed in initial reports of the event.

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