The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands that the Northern Cape Department of Education initiates an immediate investigation into overloading of learner transport, after an oversight inspection in Hartswater confirmed more than double the number of learners allowed per bus, per trip.
Our oversight at Tadcaster Intermediate School in Hartswater, revealed that only one bus was available to learners in the morning. The first trip had 113 learners and the second trip had 141 learners, although the bus is only allowed to carry 65 passengers at a time. This level of overcrowding poses a serious safety risk and these concerns have been raised with the department for some time, but to no avail.
Learner transport challenges are not limited to one area but seem widespread in the province.
Several schools in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality are experiencing significant constraints and challenges in providing learner transport to qualifying learners in the area. Learners and their families raised concerns about the use of vehicles that are not roadworthy, the overcrowding of vehicles, and a subsequent failure to abide by relevant road safety norms and standards with the DA.
It is unacceptable that learners must risk life and limb every day they go to school. We therefore request the department to launch an investigation into learner transport routes to ensure that every qualifying learner gets to school safely.
While the ANC government cannot even get children to school on time or in safety, the DA is launching projects to provide free transport to jobseekers. Ultimately, the only way to rescue the Northern Cape’s education system is for voters to choose the DA.