Responding to the recent spate of road accidents involving vehicles transporting learners to and from various schools in the province, the MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, has taken matters into his own hands and conducted surprise visits to check compliance.
This province has recently been marred with road accidents involving scholar transport, which has claimed the lives of learners and left many traumatised and scarred for life.
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In the beginning of August, a goods train ploughed into a school bus on its tracks between Arnot and Wonderfontein, killing six learners and leaving 19 others injured. The learners of Moreig primary and high schools were on their way home to Mafube Village when this occurred.
It is disheartening that we keep on losing the lives of our learners in this manner, and as government we cannot watch and keep quiet.
Shortly afterwards, another fatal accident involving a school bus happened just outside Mbombela between the KaMagugu and Karino roads.
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These accidents prompted Thomo to step forwards and conduct surprise visits and roadblocks targeting vehicles ferrying learners across the province, and checking up on their roadworthiness. “It is disheartening that we keep on losing the lives of our learners in this manner, and as government we cannot watch and keep quiet.
We believe regular roadblocks and compliance monitoring of these vehicles will help decrease the scourge of accidents.
“This is the reason why I have since made the decision that I will go around the province and conduct random and unannounced visits and roadblocks targeting scholar transport. We have noted that the accidents are mainly a result of a combination of factors such as human error and unroadworthy vehicles. We believe regular roadblocks and compliance monitoring of these vehicles will help decrease the scourge of accidents,” said Thomo.
