GEORGE NEWS - The safe transport of school learners is once again in the spotlight following the bus crash in Mpumalanga on Wednesday 22 May, which left 64 learners slightly injured and mostly shocked.

National Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga expressed deep concern over the ongoing use of unsafe vehicles for learner transport. This incident reminds one of the situation local learners had to face when the African Express bus they were travelling in from Touwsranten to Parkdene High, experienced brake failure on Serpentine Pass on 22 February this year.

A week before the end of the first school term, on 12 March, the parents of Touwsranten voiced their concern to members of the Western Cape Education Department and the owner of the contracted bus service, Praveen Singh. 

Local concern 

According to Bronagh Hammond of the WCED, the issues that have been raised by the parents were fully addressed. 

"Several meetings were held at both our district office and the community hall in Touwsranten. We held two community meetings, one of which was a feedback session. It was attended by all stakeholders, including the service provider, bus drivers, learners, parents, principals, and the designated LTS educators."

A resident in Touwsranten who represents the community, Ingrid Buys, said the second meeting on 9 April was not to the satisfaction of the parents who attended. 

"They only came to tell the parents that the children are ill mannered on the buses. They didn't give any other feedback on the way forward, the safety of the children, the safety of the buses and what protocol they have in place," said Buys.

Investigation

At the time of the bus incident the WCED said they would investigate the safety of the bus service's buses, which Hammond this week confirmed has been concluded. She said all buses were thoroughly inspected by local authorities and were deemed roadworthy.

This was confirmed by Singh, who said the buses were taken to the municipality's vehicle testing station and found to be in a roadworthy condition. "So far we are good and hope to keep it that way," he said.

On a question to the department whether they are contemplating the use of another service provider, Hammond said there is currently a legal contract in place and all buses were deemed roadworthy. 

"We will continue to monitor the routes carefully with the relevant governing bodies in the interests of learner safety," she said.

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