Spot check on school bus safety
This was to check if buses transporting learners to school were in a good state and roadworthy.
In preparation for the start of the first term of the 2021 academic year, acting KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Kwazi Mshengu on Tuesday visited Port Shepstone bus depot.
This was to check if buses transporting learners to school were in a good state and roadworthy.
MEC Mshengu said the inspection of the Learner Transport Fleet is to ensure that transport services provided to learners complies with road safety guidelines including roadworthiness of all vehicles transporting learners in the province.
The vehicle inspection programme is also aimed at monitoring the Department of Transport and operators’ state-of-readiness ahead of schools reopening on February 15 and to observe adherence to the Covid-19 regulations.
“So far we are happy with what we saw, we want to be sure that by February 15 everything is in order and there are no issues with regards learners being transported to schools,” said the MEC.
Mshengu said he was pleased with the condition of the vehicles inspected after visiting a black-owned bus fleet company, adding that it was exciting that an African person owned a fleet of about 90 buses.
He said that his department will continue with this across the province as it is an important aspect of the education system.
The MEC also added that learners walking more than three kilometres to school should have access to this transport because when they travel longer distances, they get to school tired and are unable to concentrate which affects their performance.
He mentioned that they are supposed to be transporting 150 000 learners but currently on 40 000 because of budget constrains.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
