More than 1200 operators have been contracted to transport 65000 qualifying pupils to school throughout the province.This comes after a week-long process of quality and vehicle verification checks to prepare for the new school year. Transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said yesterday was the final day for vehicle verification.
“Our officials are working very hard to finalise the signing of contracts with public transport operators who have been appointed, especially in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts (Butterworth and Dutywa).
“By Monday evening the total number of operators contracted to transport qualifying learners had been brought to 1264 operators in the province.”
He said the number was expected to increase by the close of business yesterday.
Kumbaca said qualifying pupils were those that applied for scholar transport and who walked distances of 5km or more to get to the nearest school.
They also had to be approved by their respective schools, which forwarded their details to the transport department.
“Testing stations have been open throughout the weekend and defective vehicles were sent back to correct what could be corrected, failing which replacement of the vehicles was recommended.
“We are convinced that Butterworth and Dutywa will be finished by late today.”
Kumbaca said the testing of vehicles was a key requirement of the programme.
“We are not compromising on the safety of the vehicles. All vehicles were tested before any service level agreement was signed with the operators.”
Kumbaca said scholar transport operators would be servicing additional schools and routes to improve the availability of the service. “There has been a significant number of routes and schools that have been introduced after the department conducted a survey of other areas which need to be serviced,” he said, adding that the department was ready for the first day of school.
“We have done our best to ensure that all of the 65000 learners who applied will be catered for tomorrow (today), and our task will be just to monitor and ensure that none of the vehicles approved were borrowed and children are transported safely and not congested.”
Last year at this time there were more than 94000 deserving pupils while the department only transported 57000, Kumbaca said. More than 30 000 walked.
“We consider those who walk the longest and in dangerous areas because we do not have the budget to transport everyone,” he said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
School transport for 65000 pupils ready to roll, says MEC
This comes after a week-long process of quality and vehicle verification checks to prepare for the new school year. Transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said yesterday was the final day for vehicle verification.
“Our officials are working very hard to finalise the signing of contracts with public transport operators who have been appointed, especially in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts (Butterworth and Dutywa).
“By Monday evening the total number of operators contracted to transport qualifying learners had been brought to 1264 operators in the province.”
He said the number was expected to increase by the close of business yesterday.
Kumbaca said qualifying pupils were those that applied for scholar transport and who walked distances of 5km or more to get to the nearest school.
They also had to be approved by their respective schools, which forwarded their details to the transport department.
“Testing stations have been open throughout the weekend and defective vehicles were sent back to correct what could be corrected, failing which replacement of the vehicles was recommended.
“We are convinced that Butterworth and Dutywa will be finished by late today.”
Kumbaca said the testing of vehicles was a key requirement of the programme.
“We are not compromising on the safety of the vehicles. All vehicles were tested before any service level agreement was signed with the operators.”
Kumbaca said scholar transport operators would be servicing additional schools and routes to improve the availability of the service. “There has been a significant number of routes and schools that have been introduced after the department conducted a survey of other areas which need to be serviced,” he said, adding that the department was ready for the first day of school.
“We have done our best to ensure that all of the 65000 learners who applied will be catered for tomorrow (today), and our task will be just to monitor and ensure that none of the vehicles approved were borrowed and children are transported safely and not congested.”
Last year at this time there were more than 94000 deserving pupils while the department only transported 57000, Kumbaca said. More than 30 000 walked.
“We consider those who walk the longest and in dangerous areas because we do not have the budget to transport everyone,” he said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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