Two learners knocked by cars

Parents and scholar transport drivers are urged to drive wisely when dropping off and picking up children at the school gates.

This is after Sunnyridge Primary School registered two accidents.

The school is concerned about the safety of children during morning drop off hours and the late afternoon pick up.

Hazel Smith, school deputy principal, said they plead with the EMPD to intervene to help save lives.

“The streets around our school are a death trap due to the traffic and total lawlessness of many transport drivers and some of our parents,” said Smith.

“In the past week, two of our learners have been knocked over by cars. One resident living across from the school was bumped into as well,” said Smith.

“The learner who was knocked over had to be taken to Life Roseacres Hospital in Primrose to get stitches,” she said.

“We have for many years now raised this concern with our councillors, as well as with the EMPD but have not received any assistance,” said Smith.

“Our staff members do scholar patrol duties. They get sworn at and verbally abused by transport drivers and parents,” she said.

“We have Grade Six learners who do scholar patrol duties at three different spots, but they are also putting their lives at risk,” said the deputy principal.

“The streets around the school must be made into one-way streets, especially during the busy pick up and drop off hours.

“EMPD officers need to be visible so that vehicles are not parking on red lines, do u-turns, block streets, overload their vehicles, and drive un-roadworthy vehicles,” said Smith.

Sergeant Styles Maome of Primrose SAPS corporate communications said the Primrose SAPS had a meeting with drivers transporting children to Primrose schools.

“The reason for the meeting was to address challenges faced by scholar patrollers. Five schools sent their representatives to the meeting. They expressed their challenges and the most common challenge was that drivers disrespect their scholar patrollers,” said Maome.

“It was alleged that some drivers provide alcohol to learners. It was also alleged that they sleep with the learners during school hours. The SAPS will investigate this matter,” he said.

“Where a driver is found guilty they can be charged with statutory rape,” said Maome.

“Transporters complained about municipal buses. They said they occupy much of the parking space, forcing them to park in appropriate spaces,” he said.

“It was agreed that all principals must be invited to another meeting. EMPD and transport bosses and their drivers will be invited as well to discuss all challenges,” said Maome.

“The drivers also agreed that if a driver is found contravening the law, their vehicle must be impounded,” said Maome.

“They were also warned not to play their music loud as well as to get their vehicles roadworthy if they not,” said Maome.

GCN sent a request for comment to CoE on May 27 at 15:00. By the time of going to print, no comment was received.