Scholar transport operators hold prayer session for safety and unity

Following a series of tragic accidents involving scholars and scholar transport, the Northern Education Transport Co-ordinators (NETCO) hosted a prayer session on January 28 to honour the victims and support operators during what it described as a challenging period for the industry.

The prayer session focused on key issues affecting scholar transport, including the need for improved safety, encouraging drivers to exercise greater caution, combating recklessness on the roads, fostering shared responsibility for the safety of children, and ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles.

Concerns around the impounding of operators’ vehicles were also raised.

NETCO public relations officer Kgabo Selolo said prayer plays an important role in seeking protection for the children being transported, as well as for drivers who face difficult road conditions daily.

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“We believe the power of prayer creates a hedge of protection around children, vehicles and drivers against seen and unseen dangers,” said Selolo.

“The condition of our roads is very poor, traffic is a major challenge, and we also face difficulties such as being undermined by some parents and schools. At times, we experience bullying from fellow public transport operators and even some law enforcement agencies.”

According to Selolo, the gathering also aimed to promote unity and discipline within the scholar transport sector.

Owners, drivers and religious leaders came together in prayer, united by a shared goal of ensuring children travel safely between home and school.

“Through unity and prayer, we believe we can overcome the challenges facing the industry,” he said.

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NETCO encourages its members to regularly service their vehicles and to apply for operating licences.

The organisation has introduced a system where vehicles are checked regularly for roadworthiness and drivers are vetted.

In addition, vehicle owners and drivers attend annual first aid and firefighting training as part of efforts to improve scholar safety.

“We plead with parents and schools not to lose faith in us, as we are fully committed to providing a safe and reliable service, their future is our pride,” Selolo added.

“We promise to continue advocating for safer journeys for our children and stricter adherence to safety regulations. Parents are also encouraged to use registered and regulated transport services and to know the operators they contract with, as this makes accountability easier.”

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NETCO plans to continue hosting prayer sessions as part of its ongoing programmes and said additional initiatives are in the pipeline to strengthen and grow the scholar transport industry.

The organisation also appealed to government and law enforcement agencies to work more closely with NETCO, calling for open dialogue to better understand how the scholar transport sector operates.

“We do not condone unroadworthy vehicles or reckless driving,” Selolo said.

“However, some requirements are imposed overnight without consultation, and vehicles are impounded unnecessarily. We are asking the government to sit down with our leadership so that we can work together to address these issues.”

Selolo added that many families depend on the scholar transport industry for their livelihoods, and that the sector plays a vital role in ensuring children are able to attend school.

“We need support, not oppression. Let us work together — government, communities, schools, parents and the scholar transport industry. Unity is power.”