Mothers from Sakhile fight for transport

Mothers of Ext 8 were up in arms at the circuit office of the Department of Education on Thursday, August 12.

Lekwa Community Forum organised the protest.

Lack of transport for children to schools in Sakhile is the reason for the frustration.

According to information, the only primary school in Ext 8 is Khunjuliwe Secondary School.

A mother said small children have to walk across a railway line to attend schools in the township.

“It is dangerous,” she said.

After some protesting, the gate to the circuit offices was locked.

Employees of the department were allegedly chased from their posts when the group first arrived.

Mr Sello Tsotetsi, communications officer of the forum, said the transport issue has been troubling the community since 2017.

They also protested at the district’s circuit office on August 6 and was allegedly promised that transport will be made available on August 10.

Mr Tsotetsi added that parents made it vividly clear that they will be forced to close all Lekwa schools if the promise is not honoured.

Parents believe in their children’s right to an education He commented that the forum has decided on provincial and national involvement as well.

Mr Tsotetsi said on Friday, August 13 that the protesters will be at the circuit office once again on Monday, August 16 at 9:00.

In a letter to the department, schools and media houses, the forum said when all other learners in South Africa returned back to school after the extended winter holidays in July, the children of Ext 8 could not go back to school because no transport was made available for them.

According to the letter, officials of the Departments of Education and Public Works have repeatedly ‘lied’ since 2018 and betrayed these learners and the entire community, promising regular and reliable scholar transport.

“For nearly three years a local company has been transporting these learners and others without being paid by the department,” the letter read.

According to the forum, this company was also severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and when informing the department that it intended to stop the transportation, they were ignored.

“When the parents of these learners, their school governing bodies and other community structures informed the department of their pending challenges,” the letter also read.

“We cannot ignore the plight of these learners in Ext 8 and other areas, learners who still do not have transport and must walk longer distances to school, crossing the dangerous railway line and busy national roads before they could reach their schools.

“These are learners who are currently missing out in their studies because of careless, corrupt and arrogant officials of the department.”

The letter concluded with saying that since all attempts to solve this problem with the urgency it deserves, have failed dismally, the community of Ext 8 and other community structures have decided to implement a shutdown as from August 16.

One of the forum’s demands was that Magogogo Passenger Services be appointed to provide scholar transport.

Mr Tsotetsi emphaised that the protests are peaceful.

The Standerton Advertiser contacted the provincial spokesman of the department on August 13, and is awaiting comment.

Readers will be updated on the outcome.