By Anita Dangazele
A South African Human Rights Commission official walked in the shoes of more than 50 learners from different villages in the Eastern Cape to show the daily struggles faced by children without scholar transport.
Some learners leave their homes as early as 6am to walk more than 10km to and from school every weekday.
SAHRC official Sakhumzi Mjekula, who walked with learners from Mbizana village in Middledrift on Wednesday morning, said: “The walk was challenging on a normal sunny day, imagine how much more on rainy days.”
The learners attend the Ntabenkonyana Senior Secondary School which was built at a central point to accommodate the surrounding villages. However, the school is still quite far for pupils from villages such as Mbizana.
The chairperson of the school’s governing body, Mbuyiseli Venene who lives in Mbizana, said the school had more than 350 learners and more than 300 of them needed scholar transport.
“Others from the village of Njwaxu were receiving school transport and some others who could afford it have put their children in transport — but the majority of parents are unemployed and cannot afford that,” he said.
Venene said in the years that he has been involved with the school, only 30 learners had benefited from scholar transport.
Eastern Cape transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said many learners from remote areas do not qualify for school transport as they have the option to enrol at schools closer to home.
“Unfortunately, what is referred to as a school of choice is not catered for by scholar transport,” he said.
Pictured above: Learners from Mbizana village in Middledrift trekking to the Ntabenkonyana school.
Image source: SAHRC/X
