Limpopo transport department ‘mum’ on scholar transport issues

POLOKWANE – It is shameful that the Department of Transport has been silent on the scholar transport accident which claimed the lives of two learners on the corner of Plein and Van Boeschoten streets in late August.

Read more: Boy (13) dies after taxi and bus collide in Polokwane

This is according to a group of scholar transport operators in the city, who said numerous requests to formalise the industry for the sake of accountability has been falling on deaf ears for many years.

They are of the view that there is no formal structure monitoring the industry, resulting in drivers becoming reckless.

While the cause of the head-on collision between a bus and quantum taxi had not been established yet, reckless driving has not been ruled out, based on the accident report.

On Tuesday, the police’s Capt Lesiba Ramoshaba said investigations were still ongoing and that a case of culpable homicide had been opened.

“There are still statements that we will be obtaining from other witnesses. When we have all outstanding documents, we will take the docket to the Senior Public Prosecutor for a decision,” he told Polokwane Observer.

From the 11 children who were admitted to hospital with a range of injuries, 10 have been discharged, the Education Department confirmed.

Read more: Three Polokwane learners still in ICU following collision

Days after the incident, spokesperson Mike Maringa confirmed that three learners had been treated in the intensive care unit.

A representative of the transport operators told Polokwane Observer that only after having approached the department, did the department a week later commit to assist in formalising the industry.

During their meeting with one director in the department, the group reportedly requested for the department to host consolidated workshops to assist scholar drivers in terms of their conduct, “for the benefit of the learners”.

“We want this to happen as soon as possible before Transport Month is commemorated. We are not making any subsidy demands. We would also appreciate if parents and principals could form part of the workshop so that each stakeholder knows where their boundaries and responsibilities lie,” the group said.

Their request, he said, was being overlooked as some officials have alliances with scholar transport taxi owners or benefit from the way matters stand currently.

Departmental spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene said they would issue a statement on the matter in due course.

The group has asked for their identities to be withheld as naming them could jeopardise their negotiations with the department.