'Alternative options are not viable': How Dial-a-Ride cuts affect families with disabled children
Image: Pexels
A decision by the City of Cape Town to scale back its Dial-a-Ride service from September 8 2025, has left many of the city's most vulnerable in the lurch.
One such person is Dr Warren Charles, whose son is wheelchair-bound, and spoke to IOL about the plight.
The Charles family will be greatly hit by the scaling back, as his son has used the Dial-a-Ride service for the last three years. At this point, Dial-a-Ride is the only reliable scholar transport system that can accommodate someone in a wheelchair.
He uses the services Monday to Friday as he is collected from home, dropped off at school, and collected in the afternoon again, making the service a part of their everyday life.
When asked how the scaling back would affect his education, Charles said: "It will severely impact his reasonable access, which the system has been providing to get to school, ultimately impeding his access to schooling and education."
Charles said that he has been in contact with families in a similar situation.
"I have been in contact with the learners being collected with my son in the mornings. These parents are in limbo, as they don't have other forms of transport for their kids. We as parents (twelve of us) also share a WhatsApp group where we keep each other in touch with collections etc, and the mood in the group is one of shock and disappointment at being removed from the platform."
He reiterated that getting their children to school or university will be one of the biggest challenges.
"Some families have cars, yet these vehicles are not accommodating for a wheelchair, whilst other households don't even have a car or access to alternative transport arrangements.
"There are alternative options, yet expensive, but they do not accommodate your child's impairment. So no, these options are not viable."
He stated that he would like Councillor Quintas and the City of Cape Town to reconsider their decision "to the point that they will rescind it".
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In terms of further steps, Charles and the other parents are taking action: "Currently, we are drafting a petition, and other further actions are planned. Remember, we are not used to protesting and these kinds of shenanigans, but if it is needed, the disabled community is prepared to do such.
According to the Dial-a-Ride site, the service transports 350 regular users and 2,270 ad-hoc passengers, providing a dedicated kerb-to-kerb transport option for people with disabilities who are unable to use mainstream public transport.
Under the impending changes, the service will be severely limited and exclusively for transport to and from work.
The reduction is expected to affect more than 1,000 vulnerable individuals.
The City attributes its decision to an "unsustainable" R12 million annual shortfall.
Charles said he hoped for better communication
"Proper common decency and open advanced communications with all stakeholders was at least expected if the City was to implement their current decision, which now impacts families and individuals who need this much-needed service."
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