Central SA
Northern Cape learner transport: Few not paid while contracts are finalised─── CASEY-LEE ANTHONY 11:44 Thu, 05 Sep 2024
“Each transporter is required to submit their invoices every month before the 15th to ensure timely payments.”
Thirteen out of 240 scholar transport operators in the Northern Cape still need to be paid for July.
The Northern Cape Department of Education offers transport to learners who live 5km and further from their nearest school. Private transport operators are contracted monthly until the end of March next year while the department is formalising their contracts.
“The tariffs paid by the department are mutually agreed upon, between (us) and the service providers, before the transportation of learners can start,” said Education spokesperson Geoffrey van de Merwe.
‘277 schools benefit from the learner transport service’
The department implemented the programme in 2018 after it was transferred from the Department of Transport, Safety, and Liaison. Currently, 27,850 learners are brought to and back from school on 446 routes by 240 learner transport operators. A total of 277 schools benefit from the learner transport service, including six special-needs schools.
The department said it’s implementing a system to ensure all learner transport operators are paid on time so they may deliver a safe and reliable learner transport service, said Van der Merwe. Each transporter is required to submit their invoices every month before the 15th to ensure timely payments.
He said 227 learner transport operators received their July payments, while the payments of 13 operators were outstanding, but being processed.
This service was implemented for learners who live in the rural and far-flung areas of the province. They can be reassured that the department “is more committed than ever before to administering a safe and reliable learner transport service”.
“(We call) on our law enforcement agencies to ensure that learner transport operators adhere to the traffic regulations at all times, especially when transporting our learners,” said Van der Merwe.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any challenges experienced in their community relating to learner transport to the department on 076 581 3757.
