Regulating the scholar transportation industry of Soweto
The Bokamoso Scholar Transport Association, in Diepkloof is seeking to be the new hope for transport drivers and parents who have lost hope in the scholar transporting industry.
The Bokamoso Scholar Transport Association, in Diepkloof is seeking to be the new hope for transport drivers and parents who have lost hope in the scholar transporting industry.
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The association was founded in 2019 with the ethos of creating awareness within the sector and ensuring the rights of transport drivers in the area are protected.
Karabo Motlhomi, Public Relations Officer of Bokamoso Association said, “We established Bokamoso because we wanted to try and close the gap, fix the mistake that has been happening for years because the industry is a mess. There is nobody to oversee if there are any issues.
“As a result, there is no link between the school, parent and us as transport drivers so we are saying we need to be working together and not against each other.”
Motlhomi explained that the establishment of the association was to benefit the parents and assures them of the safety of their children and further eradicate the lack of compliance within the sector.
“We want everybody to belong. We are not saying join Bokomaso but according to the transport act, any person transporting public, must be branded,” he said.
“We have embarked on a process where we want to remove all vehicles that do not have a sticker permitting them to transport learners.
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“That will address safety concerns because it will make it easier to identity who is who and avoid kidnappings and such.”
Speaking to Urban News, the PRO said while the sector faced many challenges, the biggest challenge was the lack of support from government structures, the blatant disregard and “sidelining” of their work.
“There are visible communication challenges because certain information does not reach us. This tells us that we are not considered but we are saying, we are a key part in forming that triangle relationship,” Motlhomi concluded.
Bokamoso Disciplinary committee member, Themba Shilubane echoed the same sentiments citing that many of the issues facing the industry would only have a resolution if government came on board and officially recognise the sector, in what he said was long overdue.
“What we are trying to do is formalise and legitimise this business. The business has been in existence for as long as I can remember, however we are yet to be recognised by government.
“This was particularly felt during the Covid-19 and lockdown, where only taxi drivers were prioritised and given relief funds while we were left in the cold.
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“We hope through the formation of the association, we do away with a lot of stigmas that are attached to scholar drivers but ensure accountability and adherence, so parents are able to report their grievances,” he said.
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