Touwsranten school drive

GEORGE NEWS - Answers to many burning questions on bus transport for high school learners in Touwsranten will only be given at a second meeting between the parents and authorities, most likely in the coming week.

"We don't know yet when, but hopefully before the school term ends," said a parent* who attended the meeting on Tuesday evening, 12 March, at the Touwsranten Community Hall.

The meeting was organised by the Western Cape Department of Education to address their concerns about the current bus transport by African Express between Touwsranten and George. The children attend the George and Parkdene high schools, both situated in George.

Over the last month, three bus breakdowns left children stranded next to Serpentine Road and Kaaimans Pass.

The incident on 21 February in the Serpentine Pass when a busload of Parkdene High learners went downhill without working brakes left some learners traumatised. With the last incident on Kaaimans Pass, some children had to be hospitalised for shock.

Parents and learners group together last Friday at the place in Touwsranten were the learners get the bus every day.

Some parents who attended the meeting on Tuesday said they are left with many questions and no answers. "The head of George High did not attend the meeting," one parent said. "Mr Praveen Singh [owner of African Express] was present, as well as the head of Parkdene High, a handful of representatives from the Department of Education, and a packed hall full of parents and children. Some had to stand outside. We all want to know how they can help us."

Three of the questions parents hope the department will be able to answer with positive feedback are as follows:

Why can't the learners be transported in the luxury buses sent to fetch them after a breakdown?
Are the buses allocated for the Touwsranten - George route really roadworthy?
Does the bus company have protocol in place for breakdowns next to the road, with a bus full of learners?

"I know Mr Singh could have answered some of these questions, and it looked like he was willing to," said one parent. "But, the representative from the department said they are only here to listen to the parents, and if Mr Singh was to give answers the parents would only have more questions, which would drag out the meeting."

The meeting stretched over three hours, from 18:00 to 21:00.

One of the parents said the department suggested that the community choose seven parents for the feedback session, but the parents did not like that suggestion. "We are all parents, we all want to know what they have to say," said one of the moms.

When asked for comment, Singh said the meeting was quite emotional, especially at the end, and that it might have been best for him not to engage with the entire group on Tuesday night. "I did speak to a smaller group of parents afterwards, and I am more than willing to address the parents again at the next meeting. There is definitely a way to move forward," he said.

"It is important to know that I can currently only send buses for the Touwsranten route that are authorised to operate on those routes. Every bus is linked to a route." He emphasised that all his buses are roadworthy and fully equipped. Singh said he will have further engagements with the department.

Millicent Merton of the Department of Education said they will provide George Herald with feedback on the meeting as soon as possible. The press was not allowed to attend.

According to the parents, a repre-sentative of the department drove with the learners in one of the buses from Touwsranten to George High yesterday, Wednesday 13 March.

* The identities of the parents who talked to George Herald are being withheld to protect them against possible victimisation.

Read previous articles:

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’