The inquiry has become critical, as more than 9,000 learners in the province have reportedly been left without access to scholar transport. This has raised serious concerns, particularly as many learners have been involved in accidents due to unsafe and unroadworthy buses and minibus taxis, especially in rural areas.

The three-day proceedings, which began on Tuesday (11/3), have seen the SAHRC receive both oral and written submissions from various stakeholders. The investigation aims to assess the extent of these transport issues and evaluate the government’s response.

Community Safety and Transport Management Portfolio Committee chairperson Freddy Sonakile appeared before the SAHRC at the Protea Hotel in Mahikeng. He highlighted several tragic incidents that underscore the crisis.

“I’m aware of multiple fatalities. In one incident in Zeerust, a learner fell out of a bus. In another, a group of learners was involved in an accident when the steering wheel of the bus detached while in motion. In Bonabona, a child lost their life. There are numerous other similar cases,” Sonakile said.

Additionally, officials recently stopped a 14-seater minibus taxi carrying 40 learners from Sedibelo Secondary School, further exposing the dangers of unregulated scholar transport.

SAHRC Commissioner, Nomahlubi Kwinana, said the investigation was prompted by numerous complaints received by the provincial office. She noted that an inspection of over 70 buses revealed a systemic crisis in scholar transport.

“We’ve found that rural and underprivileged communities bear the brunt of these issues. Scholar transport is unreliable, inadequate, and inaccessible,” Kwinana stated.

The SAHRC also found that these transport failures violate learners’ constitutional right to education. Kwinana said this concern was raised by children themselves during a recent SAHRC conference.

She emphasised that citizens, government officials, MECs, and civil society groups must play an active role in addressing these challenges.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg