Buziwe Nocuze
Hundreds of learners who normally travel to school on minibus taxis and Avanzas were left stranded on Monday after the City of Cape Town cracked down on public transport vehicles that operate without permits.
The Department of Education in the Western Cape said affected learners are from Nyanga, Gugulethu, Samora and Lower Crossroads townships.
Nolusindiso Mehlwana said she hoped things will get back to normal as soon as learners are writing third quarter exams.
“My kids have not been in school since last week. Their driver said he doesn’t have a permit and he can’t risk his Avanza being impounded,” she said.
The parents said they thought this would last until last Friday but on Monday the transport still didn’t arrive.
“We don’t know when this will stop,” said another parent.
Workers can’t get to work as there is a shortage of public transport in the townships.
“We can’t go to the malls because we depend on taxis. Some people can’t go to work because they need Avanzas to take them to the taxi ranks,” said a community member.
“Our bosses can’t risk the company cars to pick us up because they are being attacked and even Uber drivers are afraid.”
A learner said she was worried that they would be chased away from school because of this.
“But as long as the Department knows about our struggle we won’t have trouble there,” she said.
“We want to go to school, but there is no transport and we can’t even walk there because it’s too far.”
Western Cape Education spokesperson Bronagh Hammond has advised parents to contact the schools to inform them if their children won’t attend and request that they send any school work that has to be completed if possible.
“We appeal that learners are allowed to attend school. That is their basic right, but their safety, however, is the main priority,” said Hammond.
Image source: @BusinessLIVE
