For the thousands of learners who were left stranded last week without scholar transport, the wait ended on Monday.

Scholar transport services have been resumed after the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, resolved the issue of payments to bus operators.

Several parents from Mamelodi confirmed that school transport services resumed, and their children are now back at school.

One of the parents, Linah Masemola, said that they are happy the issue of scholar transport has been resolved.

Masemola continued, saying many parents could not afford to pay for school transport, as they come from disadvantaged families.

“Bringing back scholar transport has relieved many parents from stress because the school children were left at home roaming around the streets doing nothing,” said Masemola.

Another parent, Zikiwe Motsweni, said, “We are relieved as parents because our children are attending school again.”

Motsweni said most of the learners come from disadvantaged families and rely on feeding schemes during the day.

She said that their children were left at home, stranded without food during the day, and they may have become involved in crime.

Jabulani Khumalo from the Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council (GASBOC) welcomed the commitment made by Chiloane to urgently resolve the payment bottleneck affecting scholar transport services in the province.

Khumalo confirmed that the scholar transport service is back and in full service across Gauteng.

“We have not received any complaint from bus operators so far, and those whose payment was not resolved must contact GASBOC,” said Khumalo.

He said GASBOC deeply regrets the disruption that has affected learners, parents, schools, and communities across Gauteng and sincerely apologises for the inconvenience and uncertainty caused by this unfortunate situation.

The bus operators engaged in a protest after they did not receive their November payments.

While addressing parents last week in Mamelodi, Daniel Tloubatla from the Department of Education said the department acknowledged and understood the frustration of parents.

He confirmed that the department’s role is to make sure that learners are in class.

“Our vision is very clear: each and every learner should feel valued and inspired, as they are the future leaders of this country.”

He added, “Once the transport issue is resolved, we are going to have a catch-up programme for the learners who were unable to come to school.”

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