Learner transporters and parents share concerns

He stated, “If you use a transporter that refuses to join an association, how will you trace him or her when your child is missing?”

JMPD officer Andrew Mokgoera said police would impound any scholar transport vehicles that drive recklessly and play loud music. “It is a parent’s responsibility to engage the services of a clean, roadworthy scholar transporter who drives safely,” he warned

Mokgoera said that in Gauteng there had been many cases of concern with regards to children. A schoolgirl was stalked by a man who knew that the parent dropped off the child at the same spot at the same time daily. “One day the man ran up to the girl and asked her why her mother was late that day; he had been looking for an opportunity to speak to the schoolgirl and finally found one,” he said.

“Be cautious, make sure no one follows you and knows your schedule as they may kidnap your child.”

In another incident, a driver always picked up a certain schoolgirl first and dropped her off last, one day he raped her after school, the suspect was arrested.

It was also reported that sometimes some drivers run out of petrol and end up sending a pupil to walk to the nearest garage to buy petrol, which is how some children get lost or get kidnapped, they said.

A pupil at Noordwyk Secondary School who attended the meeting, told of how she was kidnapped eight years ago while walking home from school and said, “I am grateful that my parents have chosen to engage the services of a scholar transporter who belongs to an association, I feel safer.”

Transporters are challenged to:

•  Join associations
•  Communicate with parents if they are running late
•  Screen drivers and not employ people with a criminal record, and keep personal information about the drivers and their home addresses
•  Make sure vehicles are roadworthy and the driver has a PDP licence (this licence won’t be issued to drivers with a criminal record)
•  Give parents a contract and seek passenger liability insurance
•  Provide basic first aid training for drivers
•  Make sure drivers have defensive driving skills and, if possible, advanced driving
•  Invite their drivers to attend the next meeting in 2016 as they are affected by the concerns raised.

Parents are challenged to:

•  Ask to see the personal details of the driver and keep a copy
•  Ask if the driver has any health problems
•  Pay transporters on time
•  Make sure children are on time to avoid the driver having to make up for lost time by speeding
•  Bathe children, and if they are sick, take the child to a doctor and not force the driver to transport a sick child to school
•  Know where your child is at all times and call the driver to ask why the child is late
•  Know the route the driver takes
•  Know which association vehicle belongs to
•  Be careful what they do or say in front of children as they innocently share your life story with drivers. Do not share financial or travel plans in detail with children, as a criminal-minded driver could commit a crime at your home based on what he overheard your child saying.

Drivers are challenged to:

• . Drive safely and not speed
•  Not play loud music as it may lead to hearing impairments and children fail to concentrate at school after listening to booming music
•  Collect and return children on time
•  Relate well with clients and show respect
•  Look presentable and have good personal hygiene
•  Obey the rules of the road, it is unlawful for a driver to let children out of the car next to the road, as children may be hit by oncoming traffic.

Details: Midrand Learner Transport Association has a patrol vehicle and a disciplinary and grievance team to address complaints: Brian Govender 074 875 8624.

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