Budget cuts threaten scholar transport for thousands of KZN learners
Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers
The provision of scholar transport for thousands of learners to schools in KwaZulu-Natal is in jeopardy after the provincial Department of Transport revealed that the function will be 'disrupted' as a result of budget cuts. During a budget hearing yesterday, it stated to Portfolio Committee members that it needs more than R2 billion in additional funding to provide the service in full to those still on the waiting list. Unfortunately, it does not have this money.
'Due to budget cuts, the scholar transport system will be disrupted; consequently, we are likely to experience protests from scholar transport service providers. We have met with the MEC for Education, Sipho Hlomuka, and the MEC for Finance, Francois Rodgers, to discuss these challenges," said MEC Siboniso Duma.
'Apart from preparing and presenting a report to the cabinet, we agreed to convene a key meeting with education stakeholders. We want to ensure that we explain our challenges to operators, school governing bodies, organised labour, and other key stakeholders,' he said.
The MEC stated that they are currently providing scholar transport to about 77,000 pupils in close to 400 schools, with a budget for this function of around R300 million. Despite the coverage outlined, the programme still has a backlog of 1,571 schools on the waiting list, adding that an additional 234,000 learners require the service. The MEC said they need more than R2 billion in funding to meet all these objectives and they did not have these funds.
'We are highlighting this because we understand that today (Tuesday) is the reopening of schools, and among other issues that are taking place, it could be this matter,' the MEC said.
'It is important to highlight to the honourable members and members of the public that we have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Education. This MoU provides details in terms of roles and responsibilities. We are guided by the National Learner Transport Policy, which has some important provisions that include that the Provincial Department of Education is responsible for selecting learners who will benefit from subsidised learner transport services,' he said.
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He further stated that the MoU also stipulates that the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is responsible for the procurement of scholar transport service providers.
'That learners who walk a minimum of 5 kilometres to the nearest school should be provided with learner transport and that learner transport will be subsidised to the nearest appropriate school only and not to a school of parental choice. There is also a provincial policy called the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Learner Transport Policy.
'This policy states that learners who walk a minimum distance of 3 kilometres to the nearest appropriate school qualify for subsidised dedicated learner transport. The KwaZulu-Natal Learner Transport Policy also provides that learners who attend the school of parental choice do not benefit from the dedicated learner transport programme,' he said.
Riona Gokool, the DA spokesperson on Transport, expressed deep concern regarding the persistent failures of the Department of Transport in effectively delivering scholar transport to thousands of deserving learners.
'The DA notes that millions are budgeted annually for scholar transport in KwaZulu-Natal. Yet, countless learners, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas, continue to walk long, unsafe distances to school. These delays and disruptions not only endanger lives but also directly impact academic performance and dropout rates.'
She said the party is calling for a full audit of the current scholar transport beneficiaries and service providers, an investigation into procurement practices related to the programme, and immediate publication of a turnaround plan with measurable milestones, timelines, and accountability mechanisms.
'The DA will continue to fight for the rights of every child in KwaZulu-Natal to have safe access to education. We will hold this Department accountable in the Legislature and through all available oversight mechanisms. We owe it to the children of this province to do better,' she said.
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