DA calls for safe scholar transport for all rural schools

LIMPOPO – The Democratic Alliance (DA) says the Department of Education has failed in providing adequate scholar transport to learners in the province and has written to the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga to seek urgent intervention.

This after a video footage of 58 children climbing out of a 14-seater Toyota Quantum in Bela-Bela went viral on social media. The learners are from Mmamakwa and Khabele Primary Schools and it is alleged that the taxi is not even registered with the Department of Transport or Education for any public transportation category in Limpopo.

https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/336168/watch-58-learners-exit-overloaded-scholar-transport-vehicle-limpopo/

Désirée van der Walt, DA Political Head for Bela-Bela and DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Basic Education, in a statement, said the party believes this is not an isolated incident and that the failure of the department to provide safe scholar transport to all rural school in the province has resulted in parents being forced to make financial sacrifices to cover the cost of private transport to get their children to school. These arrangements are often simply impractical and unsafe as learners are subjected to being crammed into vehicles in order to get to school.

“The need for scholar transport cannot be overstated when the safety and security of learners is at risk,” she said.

Van der Walt added that the DA believes that the current Scholar Transport policy can only be made effective by providing enforceable regulations and better planning, including working together with municipalities to ensure that learner transport needs are met.

The DA further urges Minister Motshekga to probe the matter and ensure that the scholar transport is provided with immediate effect.

The party will also conduct an oversight inspection at the said schools to seek first-hand information on the current situation with scholar transport.