DEAR Editor,-
A recent accident involving 20 schoolchildren near Port Shepstone could have been avoided if there was a decent public transport system in KZN, along with an enforced Pupil Transport Policy.
The DA sends it sympathies to the families of these children and are committed to monitoring the progress of an investigation into the cause of this incident.
The issue of pupil transport accidents in KZN has become untenable and the recent increase in accidents involving ‘bakkies’ transporting pupils requires urgent mitigating action by the KZN Transport department. MEC Willies Mchunu needs to take swift action, as the buck stops with him.
The fact is that, until pupils have access to a safe alternate mode of transport, bakkies will remain the choice of transportation, especially in rural and peri-urban areas.
The DA recommends interim measures until a final policy solution is reached, including special licensing permits for bakkies used to transport pupils; improved monitoring of such vehicles, with stringent law enforcement; some form of subsidy by the KZN Department of Transport for bakkie owners to meet vehicle maintenance expenses; and registration by bakkie owners with the school(s) where they transport pupils, with allowances for principals and SGBs to periodically inspect such vehicles.
These are cost-effective and manageable interventions, which the DA believes will lead to the safer transport of pupils. There are currently 34 500 KZN pupils being ferried to and from school in bakkies. The financial demands of safe pupil transport far outweighs the department’s current budget allocation for this programme. It is therefore unlikely that we will see all pupils in the province with access to safe transport for a long time.
I have written to the MEC with the DA’s suggestions and urge him to show leadership and responsibility by seriously considering these interim measures, until such time as a comprehensive policy is finalised
RAFEEK SHAH, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport
