EC govt's bid to comply with court order to provide scholar transport being hampered by operators not doing safety tests

CAPE TOWN - A court order for the Eastern Cape government to provide scholar transport is being hampered by operators failing to bring vehicles for testing. 

In August, the Legal Resources Centre took government to court over the need for learner transport for children who walk long distances and cross dangerous rivers to get to school.

This followed video footage on social media of learners crossing an overflowing river in Mount Frere.

Learners started the new school year on Wednesday, but in the Eastern Cape many may still be waiting on the provision of scholar transport.

In December, the Makhanda High Court described the situation as unacceptable.

In its application for government to provide assistance, the Legal Resources Centre highlighted how two boys drowned in the Mapolisa River in Tsolo while walking to school in 2022.

The court found the Eastern Cape government needed to provide transport for needy learners with immediate effect.

However, the provincial transport department's Unathi Binqose said that they were now pleading with operators to present their vehicles for the necessary safety checks.

"We wish to acknowledge those who have taken time to submit their vehicles for inspection, and we are reminding those who are yet to do so that they have until close of business today to do so, and this is not a tick box exercise it is done in the interest of the safety of the learners who depend on these vehicles to get to and from school."

Binqose said that no scholar transport operator would be given a contract without undergoing these inspections.