GEORGE NEWS - It is just over a week since a bus full of high school learners went down Serpentine Pass near Hoekwil, without any brakes. The bus driver managed to negotiate the turns, sometimes on two wheels, and brought it to a standstill at the bottom of the pass. This was a nightmare the children and driver won't ever forget. They were underway from Touwsranten to Parkdene High in George.

Feedback from the Western Cape Department of Education suggested that the bus experienced brake overheating while in transit. This is in line with the explanation given by Praveen Singh, owner of African Express, the company to which the bus belongs. Singh said the brakes overheated, causing friction, and then became inactive. "We can call it 'brake failure'," he said after the accident last week.

When the brakes cooled down, after the incident, the same driver drove the bus back to the depot.

Reflection

When asked what one can do to prevent a repetition of such an incident, Singh answered that apart from driving downhill in a low gear and using brakes sparingly, there is not much one can do. "Our vehicles are all roadworthy and checked every six months," he said. "I will have this bus checked again. Our mechanic did not find any fault with the brakes when he checked the bus after the incident."

Singh said heavy vehicles tend to overheat when the driver doesn't gear down when driving down a steep hill or pass, which necessitates the driver to overwork the brakes.

More opinions

George Herald asked the owner and a manager of two separate brake and clutch businesses in town about the incident and their expert opinion on what might have caused the brakes to fail. Both experts concurred with Singh's explanation.

Okkie Schoeman, owner of CAW Brake and Clutch Service Centre, said it does happen that a driver might proceed downhill in the wrong gear. "With brake failure in those cases, it is 90% due to a fault of the driver, and not the brakes," said Schoeman. "No lorry or bus's brakes are designed to be stepped on flat while going down a mountain or pass.

You have to go down in low gear. Sometimes people want to go down faster, and that's where the problem comes in. They overuse the brakes. If it gets too hot it can no longer give friction. It can even catch fire from the heat."

Millicent Merton of the WCED said last week the department will conduct a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances pertaining to the incident and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Trauma

One of the learners' moms, Marinda van Rooyen, said her daughter still has flashbacks and is often in tears. "She is in matric and writing exams at the moment," said Van Rooyen. "She still hasn't been offered an opportunity for counselling. She is not the only one being affected."

Merton stated that a social worker visited the school on two occasions, Wednesday 21 February and a follow-up session on Friday 23 February. "About eight learners attended these sessions. The district office will schedule a meeting with the parents," she said.

Another mom, Bernadine Wyngaardt, confirmed this, saying the children received counselling in the hall the very next day. However, she only knows of one child who was severely traumatised, who received individual counselling.

Van Rooyen said she takes note of the explanation of the brakes and gears, but is still very concerned about the quality of the buses that are used for learner transport. "They are old buses and often break down. There have been too many incidents. It can't always be the fault of the driver."

Van Rooyen said except for the call this week from George Herald, they have not heard from either the department, the school or the bus owner. "The George High and Parkdene High parents, whose children make use of bus transport, were promised a meeting with the heads of the schools," said Van Rooyen.

Learners and parents gathered at the Touwsranten Community Hall after the incident, to comfort each other and await word from the department, school and bus service. Many learners are still traumatised by the incident. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Why not Go George?

In the wake of the latest bus incident in Touwsranten last Tuesday, 20 February, a reader asked George Herald to enquire about the roll-out of the Go George bus service, which she thinks could provide the perfect solution for the situation.

"I believe the problem is at National Government level as they supply the bus service," writes the concerned citizen. "The roll-out of the Go George bus service is being held up at Thembalethu. This is a National Government issue as they are helping to supply the Go George bus service and are insisting that Thembalethu get the service first before the service can be brought to Wilderness and Touwsranten."

Go George responds

The focus is currently on what is known as Phase 4A - the roll-out to Thembalethu - with one route (Route 18A/B) success-fully activated on 5 November 2023, and others to follow.

The Go George service is expanded progressively as circumstances allow with all roll-out options and sequences being considered in the best interest of the city and its residents.

Victoria Bay, Wilderness, Touwsranten, Wilderness Heights and Kleinkrantz, as well as George Airport, Herold's Bay and the Nelson Mandela University George Campus are among the areas earmarked for future roll-outs, following the full expansion of the service to Thembalethu.

Roll-out of the rest of the planned Thembalethu routes is being done progressively as key infrastructure developments, such as the widening of the N2 bridge, allow.

The situation is being monitored continuously to guide the next step.

A sequence cannot be confirmed at this stage as various scenarios and options are being considered by key stakeholders.

The community of Themba-lethu has welcomed the Go George service and is increasingly making use of it, as the following statistics confirm: on the first weekday after the roll-out, 418 trips were undertaken on Route 18A/B with passengers still hesitant about the new service. Currently, as many as 1 821 trips on this single route take place on a weekday.

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