North West Legislature Portfolio Committee on Transport Management’s oversight visit brings scholar transport passenger liability insurance failures in the spotlight
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, chaired by Hon. Freddy Sonakile, conducted an unannounced oversight visit at Moreri Secondary School in Tseoge village in the Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District. The Committee visited the school to assess scholar transport operations as part of the Oversight Week that the North West Provincial Legislature is currently embarking on in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district.
During the engagement, the Committee was informed of a tragic incident in October last year, where a Grade 10 learner lost his life while attempting to board a scholar transport bus. The committee was concerned to learn that no psychological support had been provided to the school following the incident. Additionally, serious concerns were raised about passenger liability insurance, as it was alleged that neither the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (CoSaTMa) nor the Department of Education had provided any support to the learner’s family.
“Children remain the responsibility of the department while commuting in scholar transport. When accidents occur, the department, as the custodian of the program, must take full responsibility,” said Hon. Sonakile
The Committee will engage the MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, MEC Wessels Morweng to revisit this case and assess the department’s response to similar incidents. A formal request will be made by the committee to solicit a comprehensive report on scholar transport compliance across the province, including proof of passenger liability insurance for all service providers, as this is a mandatory requirement for operating within the program.
The Committee has repeatedly urged the department to exercise due diligence in awarding scholar transport contracts. “Service providers operating without the necessary documentation are a direct liability, and the department will be held accountable. The era of placing learners’ lives at risk is over. We have extensively engaged the department on scholar transport issues and adopted clear resolutions. Any continued non-compliance, without consequence, signals complicity which will be treated as contempt of the Legislature and dealt with accordingly.” said Hon Sonakile
Namhla Luhabe
Deputy Manager - Communications
North West Provincial Legislature
Tel : (018) 392 7000
Cell : 079 527 0628
Fax : 086 695 3784
Email : namhla@nwpl.org.za
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