Pupils and teachers of Sinqobile Combined School in Normandien, marched in protest on Friday, March 4.
Community member, Lucky Shabalala led the protesters, who demanded the Department of Education (DoE) provide them with a school bus they had been asking for since 2009.
“We have been begging the department for a school bus for so many years, but they refuse to give us one. They are taking us for granted as they think we are uneducated because we are a farming community!” he exclaimed.
The march started in Panorama Drive, Lennoxton and proceeded to the School of Industries, where pupils concluded their protest in the hope of getting their message across.
Mr Shabalala explained pupils woke up at 4 am in the morning and walked 21 kilometers every day to get to school.
“It is four hours of walking across fields, dongas and the Ngagane River. They endure the scorching sun and heavy rainfalls to have basic education. What if our children get robbed, raped or killed?” he asked.
He claimed a neighbouring school received several buses over the years, and he was confused why their school never got one.
“If we had all the money in the world then every school would be given buses, but our budget limits us to a set amount of buses we can provision schools with. However, we will better our communications with the school and see how and if we can assist them,” said DoE spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi.
The community hoped they would receive a positive response from the department within a few days.
“If we do not receive a school bus soon, the school will have no choice but to close their doors,” concluded Mr Shabalala.
