VANDERBIJLPARK.- And so it has been with the children using scholar bus transport to various schools in the rural areas of Sedibeng from yesterday, 1 August.

The children from Parksig Primary, Dinokaneng High and Ramosukula High School are sitting at home and their parents are going up and down to get clear answer from the schools after a Principal of one of the schools apparently sent out a Whattsapp message that classes had been suspended indefinitely. The message further indicates that one of the parents, known to Sedibeng Ster  allegedly arrived with people at the school in a taxi to intimidate bus drivers not to come to the school.

The issues is apparently about the education department not renewing the bus owners’ tenders when they recently expired, instead other bus companies/owners were allowed to submit applications for transporting children. The Principal further indicated that the bus drivers said they are not coming to the school following the threats.

“This is until the matter has been sorted out.”

A parent at Dinokaneng told Sedibeng Ster that it is almost six weeks since their children attended school properly. She appealed to both SAPS and the Education Department for intervention.

“The lives of our children and that of the bus drivers are at risk,” she said.

Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi said he condemns the ongoing scholar transport disruptions which are also impacting negatively on the education of the learners.

“We call upon members of the community to allow our learners to use scholar transport accordingly.”