Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

I WELCOME THE OFFER OF THE Automobile Association (AA) to extend the free testing of busses being used for school outings free of charge until the end of the year. I want to encourage all our schools to make use of this offer. A letter to this effect will be sent out this week.

I want to thank all those schools who have already made use of this opportunity and taken up the offer. Our arrangement with the AA at this stage covers buses being used for special occasions, and not those being used for the WCED’s broader Learner Transport Scheme (LTS).

Contractors for the Learner Transport Scheme have to meet stringent road safety requirements, which includes regular roadworthy inspections and the submission of roadworthy certificates, in line with public transport regulations.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) provides transport for learners from poor communities who live more than five kilometres from their nearest school, and where public transport is not available.

We invest about R120-million a year to provide transport for about 55,000 learners using 1,200 buses every school day. The scheme involves about 450 contracts.

However, this scheme does not include transport arranged independently by schools for outings. However, we expect our schools to enforce stringent requirements to ensure the safety of our learners.

Two years ago, the WCED overhauled the transport scheme to ensure high safety standards and greater operational efficiency.

It is important to note that our requirement for road worthiness exceeds that of the road traffic authorities. Our safety requirements and measures include the following:

Every contractor must submit roadworthy certificates in their tender documents for specific vehicles, and may not use alternative vehicles when providing transport.

The WCED double checks the roadworthy certificates of all vehicles listed in tender applications with the traffic department.

If the WCED finds that a contractor is using a vehicle that has not been approved, the department cancels the contract and reissues the tender for the particular route.

While road traffic regulations require transport suppliers to renew roadworthy certificates every 12 months, the WCED requires contractors to provide new roadworthy certificates every six months.

While the Traffic Department is responsible for implementing road traffic regulations, the WCED works closely with the department to ensure that buses are safe.

School principals must report any vehicle that appears to be unroadworthy to the WCED.

Officials from the WCED’s Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) visit schools to conduct spot checks of vehicles.

The WCED meets the traffic department regularly to plan inspections on our various routes throughout the province, and has an arrangement with the traffic department to pull school busses from the road for inspection.

We have received allegations of irregularities in the scheme, and we are already investigating. Our policy on irregularities is absolutely zero tolerance.

We cannot afford to compromise on bus safety. We therefore welcome information on any alleged irregularity and will investigate these fully in conjunction with the relevant authorities. Those with information can contact the Office of the MEC for Education at (021) 467-2523.

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.