By Everson Luhanga
- Transport operators have not been paid for more than three months, breaking their agreements that require payment within 30 days.
- The National Congress of School Governing Bodies says the Gauteng Department of Education failed to pay outstanding scholar transport fees.
Learners from poor communities in Gauteng are staying home because scholar transport operators have not been paid.
The National Congress of School Governing Bodies says the Gauteng Department of Education has failed to pay outstanding transport fees. Without payment, operators cannot keep vehicles on the road.
Transport operators say they have gone unpaid for more than three months. This breaks payment agreements that require the department to pay within 30 days. Operators have been forced to stop services immediately.
The Gauteng Small Bus Operators’ Council says permit delays from the Department of Roads and Transport have made the situation worse. Even completed permit applications remain stuck in the system, adding to the crisis.
The Democratic Alliance says thousands of learners from at least 20 schools across the province are now affected. Children are losing valuable learning time while the payment dispute continues.
The party says families now face an unfair choice. Either children miss school or parents must pay for unsafe private lifts they cannot afford.
For parents living hand to mouth, scholar transport is not a luxury. It is the only way children can attend school while parents juggle work, food costs and rent.
Getting a child to school is already a daily fight for many families in Gauteng. The transport crisis is making that fight even harder.
The National Congress of School Governing Bodies asks where money for essential services has gone. It says education suffers while funds are used elsewhere.
The organisation says children are paying the price for budget choices that ignore their basic needs.
School governing bodies are calling for immediate payment of all outstanding fees. They also want a full budget review and accountability from the education department.
They say education cannot survive while basic services collapse under financial mismanagement.
Pictured above: A taxi.
Image source: File
