Scholar transport – don’t just assume it’s safe
Parents are urged to check the reliability of their scholar transport, and not just leave all the responsibility to the drivers.
UNREGULATED scholar transport poses a danger to the children as some drivers do as they please, thus putting the lives of the children in danger.
Heather White, a resident in the South, warned parents who put their children in the care of school/aftercare transport to be vigilant and be aware of the dangers that some of the drivers expose the children to.
“I have seen transporters chatting on their cellphones while driving, smoking with kids in the vehicle, going through stop streets without stopping, and dropping learners off at traffic lights near the school instead of outside the school gate. A few transporters have a bombastic ‘get out of my way, I’ll drive how I want’ attitude, and we think our loved ones are safe. Come on, parents, follow the transporter one day and see if your loved ones are as safe as you think.”
CHRONICLE spoke to the executive committee of Southern Suburbs School Transport Organisation (SSSTO), which promised to eradicate the pirate operation of learner transport vehicles in the South.
They unanimously said parents need to check the reliability of their scholar transport, and not just leave all the responsibility to the drivers.
Veli Mthembu, who deals with discipline in the organisation, said they appreciated what White highlighted, but that parents should know that this industry is not yet as formalised as they want it to be. Some people just wake up and decide that they will transport children, without proper training or skills.
“We urge parents to please take a picture of the vehicle, registration, the place where this happened and the time. We will try our best to locate that person because we work with SAPS and the JMPD. Also, we can assure parents that our members, who are fully trained, always obey the rules and regulations of the road,” Mthembu said.
Pitso Ropodile, another member, said if you are not regulated, it is easy to do as you please. “These young drivers, they don’t feel responsible most of the times. They make us look bad with their unacceptable behaviour. Parents need to help us in naming and shaming them,” explained Ropodile.
The chairperson of the organisation, Koki Ncaba, said everyone must familiarise him/herself with the National Land Transport Act (No 5 of 2009). “The behaviour of the scholar transport drivers is very important. That is why we have regular training to equip them with necessary skills. We have also acquired a new fleet of taxis to improve our services.
“So parents need to work with us,” Ncaba said. “If they have any problems regarding the way their children are transported, we have an open door policy, they can visit us at 156 Sheffield Street, Kenilworth or contact the office on 011 683 0024.”
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