Eastern Cape Transport, Roads and Public Works MEC Thandiswa Marawu led from the front this morning in a campaign to monitor the scholar transport services in the OR Tambo District during this critical period of the re-opening of schools in the Province.
MEC Marawu visited schools in Tsolo, Bhaziya and Mthatha in an effort to ensure that learners were ferried safely and on time.
“This year we will see a major improvement in the monitoring of the scholar transport service as we have instructed our provincial traffic officers to work together with our public transport inspectors in all districts to conduct spot checks for roadworthiness of vehicles that will be ferrying learners and fitness of drivers,” she said.
Transport Department officials have been dispatched to various districts to monitor the service.
While the department is still finalising the bidding process in search of the new service provider, One Future Development 46 was re-appointed for a period of six months starting from 16 January until 30 June 2013 in order to avoid unnecessary disruption of the service during this critical period of the re-opening of schools.
The terms and conditions of this engagement are the same as those of the contract that expired in December 2012. They are expected to transport the same number of learners (54 000) on the same routes and pick – up points.
The budget allocation for scholar transport services in the 2013/14 financial year is R340 million.
Media contact:
Ncedo Kumbaca, Director: Communications
Cell: 082 562 6023
