The WCED prepared the following comment on request for the Cape Argus schools supplement on 19 August 2008.

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

The WCED's Learner Transport Scheme is one of the largest of its kind in the country and provides transport for about 45 500 learners every school day.

The department will invest more than R105-million in the scheme this year, and has signed about 460 contracts with bus companies to provide the service in all parts of the province.

The WCED has also made more than R4-million available to schools to contract their own transport.

The WCED provides this service on a large scale because it contributes significantly to improving access to education in poor communities, especially in rural areas.

Unfortunately, we have to apply policy strictly, to accommodate as many children as possible who qualify for transport.

We will continue to explore ways in which we can cooperate with all role players to see how best we can improve access to schooling, especially in our poorest communities.

Key concerns include learner safety. The WCED therefore applies strict safety criteria for awarding transport contracts and has appointed a full-time team to ensure compliance, in collaboration with traffic authorities.

The WCED's 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, then 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 used by the LTS that appears to be unroadworthy to the WCED.
• Officials from the WCED's Education District offices visit schools to conduct spot checks of vehicles.
• The WCED has an arrangement with the Traffic Department to pull school buses from the road for inspection. The Traffic Department sets up roadblocks regularly to inspect school buses.
• The WCED meets the Traffic Department regularly to plan inspections on our various routes throughout the province.
• A team of WCED inspectors based at our Metropole East district office travel with road traffic inspectors to different parts of the Western Cape to carry out spot checks.

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.