In an incident which allegedly took place on Monday 30 January 2023, a school bus driver (56) is seen physically abusing a learner on a bus by kicking him in the stomach, hitting and punching him. 

The MEC for Education, Tate Makgoe, strongly condemned the incident and called for the driver to be permanently barred from working with learners.

"I am completely disgusted by this physical and emotional abuse of this learner and others who witnessed this brutality. The department is providing learner transport between farms and the school to allow them access to basic education, protecting them from travelling long distances to and from schools. We have instructed the transport owner to immediately suspend the driver," he said.

Makgoe further stated that the matter was reported to the Department of Social Development, which is the custodian of the Children's Act 38 of 2005. He says police are also investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the department says learners who witnessed the incident will be provided with psychosocial support and counselling.

OFM News