The Democratic Alliance has welcomed the recent Equal Education victory in the Pietermaritzburg High Court – a move which will see the KwaZulu-Natal Departments of Education (DoE) and Transport having to provide transport for learners at 12 schools in Nquthu.

“These 12 Nquthu schools represent hundreds of learners who still walk long distances, through dangerous territory and in all weather, as a result of the lack of transport from government,” said Dr Rishigen Viranna, MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Education

“Two such cases are Ukuthula Secondary and Nqabeni Primary on the KZN South Coast, where learners walk more than 10km just to reach school and must also cross dangerous rivers – just to get an education.”

Next year the DoE will take over the Learner Transport mandate from the province’s Transport Department.

“While there is R206 million allocated for the programme, it remains woefully inadequate, with the Department estimating that it needs around R400-million to deliver to all deserving learners. Given this financial challenge, the DA has called for the DoE to urgently present its plan and funding model to the provincial portfolio committee. We are still waiting.

“The DA is committed to ensuring that every cent allocated to this vital mandate is spent correctly. Government can no longer turn its back on the youth of our province.”