TEKWANE NORTH – The lack of a school for the local community might have dire consequences for its children. Learners from the area are compelled to walk a long distance to school in Pienaar.
Most of them face the danger of being raped or robbed en route to school as they have to pass an infamous local cemetery. Speaking to Ms Maggie Seshaba, one of the residents whose children walk to school, said, “There is no other way. They have to, because I rely on the grant that they both receive and I am unemployed. That being the case, I cannot afford transport.”
Her 12-year-old daughter, Nolwazi who is in grade six, says both she and her younger sister, Andile, have to wake up at 05:00 to leave at 06:00. Nolwazi added that by the time they arrived at school an hour later, she was unable to concentrate in class because of the distance they had to walk. Some of the parents alleged that a pupils was raped in 2010, but were, however unable to give details of the victim and the police were also unable to give comment due to insufficient information.
The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport’s, Mr David Nkambule, said, “The need for the provision of scholar transport has been identified by the school. The request has been forwarded to our department for verification and consideration.”
He added if the request met the requirements, scholar transport would be provided for that community. “In this case, no request for scholar transport had previously been submitted for the learners,” Nkambule said.
The MEC for education, Ms Reginah Mhaule, told this journalist that initially the department wanted to build a combined school because of the small population and had made provision for such in their previous fiscal year, but due to the lack of available land, it wasn’t possible.
However she, indicated that the department had requested the local municipality to assist with land.
“This fiscal year there will be a budget allocated for a combined school in the area,” she concluded.
