Local School Learner Transport Safety Concerns Continue Following Recent Bus Crash

The safety of school learners in transportation once again comes under scrutiny after a bus accident in Mpumalanga on Wednesday, leaving 64 learners slightly injured. National Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga expressed serious concern over the continued use of unsafe vehicles for learner transport. This incident draws attention to a similar situation that occurred locally when learners from Parkdene High faced a bus brake failure on Serpentine Pass on February 22.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) swiftly responded to the concerns raised by the parents of Touwsranten after the incident. WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond confirmed that issues were addressed extensively through multiple meetings involving various stakeholders such as parents, learners, principals, and the contracted service provider, Praveen Singh.

Local resident and community representative Ingrid Buys expressed dissatisfaction with the feedback provided at a community meeting on April 9. Buys mentioned that parents were expecting more information on ensuring learner safety, bus safety protocols, and the way forward, rather than focusing solely on learner behavior on the buses.

Following the bus incident, WCED promised to investigate the safety of the buses provided by the service. Hammond confirmed that after thorough inspections by local authorities, all buses were deemed roadworthy. Praveen Singh corroborated this, stating that the buses underwent inspection at the municipality’s vehicle testing station and were found to be in roadworthy condition.

When asked about the potential change in service providers, Hammond emphasized that there is an existing legal contract in place, and all buses passed roadworthiness tests. The WCED will continue to monitor the routes in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of learners during transportation.