By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
Learners from two Eastern Cape schools experienced a moment of apartheid déjà vu when police fired teargas at them during a protest between Qonce (King William’s Town) and Cumakala (Stutterheim).
The children were calling on Premier Oscar Mabuyane’s government to give them scholar transport like other learners who live far from school.
This is a standing policy of the provincial Department of Basic Education that has been plagued by controversy.
For weeks now, parents and community members have been protesting on behalf of the young learners.
They said their children travel long distances on foot, dodging criminals and crossing a river that often floods, putting their lives at risk.
This week, learners from Nothenga Primary School and Nangamso Senior Secondary School joined the protest by blocking the R63 between Qonce and Cumakala.
They used tree trunks and rocks to bring traffic to a standstill.
But the police showed no mercy. A contingent arrived in the infamous Inyala police personnel carrier and fired teargas at the crowd that had gathered, including primary and high school learners and members of the community – all of them unarmed.
Resident Unathi Gqosha said: “There is also another protest at kuGatyana in the area of kuDumalisile where the road is also closed and no cars are going in or going out. That protest is also about scholar transport.”
The community has roped in the children’s rights group Khula Community to support their protest and the organisation has lodged a complaint with the Eastern Cape government.
Founder of the group, Petros Majola, said he was disappointed that the police fired teargas at unarmed learners.
“They raised their frustrations hoping to get the attention of the Department of Transport but were shocked when the police arrived without any official from the department to address them.”
Instead, the police responded by firing teargas at them.
The DA in the province said the Scholar Transport Programme has collapsed.
“Thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape have had their hopes of a great start to the 2024 school year shattered as they stand, stranded, waiting for scholar transport that never arrives,” said the DA.
“We call on the MEC for Transport to put immediate interim plans in place to ensure learners get transport.”
Pictured above: Scores of school children have to brave dangerous roads to get to school.
Source: X
Video: Supplied
