Pupil transport is a matter of life and death
MIDRAND - Brian Govender of the Midrand Learner Transport Association believes that school children who make use of unregistered school transport are endangering their lives.
Govender said, “Parents must ensure that the transport their children is using is registered with an association, the driver must have a licence and the taxi must be roadworthy.”
The association performs their own roadworthiness checks to supplement the ones performed by the Metro police.
“We are affiliated with the Gauteng Education Transport Services and are on the data base of Johannesburg Roads Agencies. We also work closely with Metro police and the police,” said Govender.
“We have created working relationships with all the government schools in Midrand and we assist with the control of traffic outside schools with the help of dedicated and trained wardens,” he added.
The association was recently approached by a school in Rabie Ridge to help pupils’ transport in the area.
“The Dulcie September Primary school had problems with taxis transporting learners and playing loud music,” he said. “Essentially, creating an environment not conducive to learning. The school approached us to help.”
Although the association’s main office is based in Midrand, they felt that the Rabie Ridge area’s scholar transport issues were of such a magnitude that they set up an office which is close to Rabie Ridge Police Station.
