Local public scholar drivers and church seek solutions for parking woes

Elsburg Church representatives and school transport drivers are seeking ways to find a solution to ensure the safety of church members and school learners.

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School transport drivers at Elsburg Primary School are desperate for a place to park their vehicles when picking up learners. Drivers previously stopped at the NG Kerk Elsburg Suid (South) Church opposite the school gate.

On July 19, when schools reopened drivers transporting learners to Elsburg Primary School discovered that the area had been closed off as the church had installed a palisade fence to barricade their property.

They also installed small poles to prevent cars from parking on the pavement.

Driver Justice Sengwaneng said the drivers understand the palisade fence is for security at the church property.

“The small poles cause parking inconvenience. The school principal had a meeting with the church representatives and taxi drivers.

He offered a short-term solution to park inside the school parking lot when learners are picked up,” said Sengwaneng.

The two taxi associations represented by the drivers are Kathorus Educational Transport Organisation (KETO) and Vosloorus Thokoza Katlehong Educational Transport Services (VOTHOKA).

Sengwaneng said the drivers and the street vendors have been left without a place to operate.

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“We understand the fence was erected for safety reasons, but the small poles are superfluous,” he said.

“We only operate on weekdays. On weekends we do not interfere with the affairs of the church.”

“As drivers, we ask that they remove those poles so we can have parking space.

The only parking space available to us is 2.5km away from the school and parking on the road is dangerous,” said Sengwaneng.

The church administrative officer Charmain Scheepers said the fence was for the safety of the congregation and vehicles during church and funeral services.

“On numerous occasions, there were attempts to steal our cars or try break into them,” said Scheepers.

“The morning and the night service attendance decreased because members did not feel safe. We do not have street lights and that made it worse,” said Scheepers.

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She said it is therefore the responsibility of the church board to attend to the concerns of church members.

“We had to do something about the situation. Financially this put the church under financial strain,” she said.

“The operation was purely for the safety of our church members.

“The small poles on the pavement were installed for the safety of the learners.

“If the taxis park on the pavement it will leave the children with no space to walk. The church cannot be held liable should any incidents occur in the street in front of the church or school,” said Scheepers.

“It was only possible for the church to do the maintenance during the school holidays.

“We are planning a meeting with the EMPD to help find solutions to the concerns,” said Scheepers.