Committee on Public Works and Transport seeks to resolve scholar transport challenge
On Thursday, 13 August 2015, the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads, Transport and Community Safety was concerned about possible loop holes in the drafting of contracts of route operators providing scholar transport, that have compromised the safety of learners in the North West Province.
This was during the meeting the committee held with service providers of scholar transport which includes bus transport, mini-bus and taxi transport commodities.
The Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Jeannette Dibetso-Nyathi expressed concern on the high number of learners who have to travel long hours to go and fro to school, the overloading on buses and the quality of transport used to carry passengers posing threat to the safety of learners.
“I am concerned about the high number of learners who are forced to walk at times in rainy weathers residing at farm areas, whose safety is compromised on buses that are considered to be not roadworthy, we need to get clarity of the reason most of our learners are not benefitting the service that is rightfully deserved” said Hon. Dibetso-Nyathi.
The Chairperson of the North West Small Bus Operator Council, (NWSBOC) Mr Final Kgodumo amongst other issues, made mention on the drafting of contracts which have loop holes that do not benefit bus operators and also risk the safety of learners, stating that they need to be reviewed.
He stated that contracts of bus operators need to be reviewed thoroughly as most of them are not consistent, they do not consider rates used on gravel and tarred roads but are currently paid the same despite the bad conditions of the gravel road which contribute to more maintenance on buses and at most get tattered quick than those used on tarred roads.
“Gravel roads are hardly maintained to fit the kind of model of buses built with advanced computer boxes to sustain the ware and tare duration, they have to be paid more due to more maintenance required on them, hence many operators have returned certain routes which are not contributing to business growth causing learners not to have transport and some being overloaded due to lack of transport,” said Mr Kgodumo
The fact that a contract only considers two (2) learners under the age of 13 years to be counted or claimed as one person, also is a disadvantage for bus owners who have to charge per head in a bus; most buses are paid only a single trip which cause overloading on buses and contravention with law enforcement officers; factors such as having financial commitments to pay operators fixed salaries per month, pay maintenance of those buses, also other monthly debts are not considered in those contracts; rates charged per day also disadvantage bus owners especially if there are issues such as service delivery protests that could last up to a month in any area.
Most month to month contracts are not sustainable and not reliable as operators would be uncertain to purchase or renew buses, and most contracts have been operating for up to four (4) without being paid. Delays of payments and payment pattern to service providers also contributes to a lot of debt causing less profit and more liabilities; permits take time to be renewed by the department when contracts are awarded; the cost escalation is not included in the contract agreement and at most claims of kilometres cannot be compensated due to fixed contract agreements.
Other members of the council mentioned that the social behavioural challenge of learners in buses is problematic and may require intervention of other department stakeholders such as Department of Social Development and the Department of Community Safety, as there is a high number of teenage pregnancy which is a major concern to them as they are parents, this also contributes to less payment rates when learners do not attend school, sexual relationships by teenagers who openly do it in the transport; the carrying of dangerous weapons brought by learners in buses either for intimidation or vandalism, violence, disrespect in the buses.
The committee welcomed the comments raised in the meeting as a way of paving and seeking ways to introduce a model for the scholar transport in the province.
They further requested the Chairperson of NWSBOC to compile a comprehensive report on the challenges and recommendations of all districts within 14 days, that should state the social challenges of violence, high pregnancy rate, drugs and social advantages operators face daily, and to also include the advantages of buses contributing as an economic harbour for the North West province.
Enquiries:
Senzile Dabula
PRO – Communications Unit
Tel: 018 392 7116
Cell: 079 879 1408 / 060 966 4854
Fax: 086 697 6614
E-mail: senzile@nwpl.org.za
