The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, Eldorado Park Principals Forum, Eldos Taxi Association and Community Policing Forum (CPF) met with pupil transport operators last Thursday to discuss and find solutions to challenges faced collectively. Concerns around the loud music, late coming and over crowded taxis were raised by Fabian Kelly, representing the principals forum.
“Children aren’t being transported to a disco, they are being transported to a school.
“By bringing a child late to school, you are infringing on their rights to education, lets work together to get them to school on time,” Kelly said.
Principal of Boekenhout Primary School, Previn Marnewicke suggested that schools and transport drivers should have an open communication where drivers should report late coming to principals and schools should have a register and contact details for drivers. Drivers said it is younger drivers who play loud music while transporting pupils. They also said that younger drivers don’t drop pupils at school but take them to parties and transport liquor for pupils
“If you look around in this room, you will see that there aren’t young drivers in this meeting.
“We have to find solutions to put an end to it (dropping pupils at parties),” said a driver.
Another driver suggested that the more experienced drivers should rear and discipline the younger drivers.
The (CPF) said that drivers mustn’t be surprised if they are arrested for compromising on the safety of pupils.
“The CPF does not support illegal activity.
“Tell the drivers who take children to parties and transport drugs and alcohol for them that arrests will happen and it will happen soon,” said the secretary of the CPF Keith Alexander.
Concerns and solutions raised by drivers and residents included:
– Pupils should be dropped on the premises of schools
– Demarcated areas should be made available for pupils to be dropped off
– Drivers must be invited to school meetings
– All gates of schools should be opened for drivers and pupils
– The absence of Metro Police is not conducive to working together for the safety of pupils
– Exchanges that take place between transports are dangerous
– Drivers don’t know where to report criminal activities
– Contact numbers for sector vans will be made available to drivers
– Residents close off their pavements with rocks, leaving drivers to drop pupils on the wrong side of the road
The Eldos Taxi Association appealed to drivers to belong to a structured association. The Gauteng Department of Transport also urged groups to form one structure where a collective decision could be made among members.
