Update: The bus involved in the incident reported this morning, is operated by a private company and not under contract to the Western Cape Education Department. Western Cape Minister of Education, Donald Grant said, “The safety of our learners is a priority for this government, and therefore we are very pleased with the operations by our provincial colleagues in clamping down on transport carrying our learners – be it public transport, private transport or transport contracted by the WCED. There are hundreds of thousands of learners that travel our roads each day, many of which use public transport, and it is imperative that we send a strong message to all bus and taxi companies and drivers that the Western Cape Government will not compromise on our learners’ safety when travelling to and from school each day. We are grateful that the driver concerned had been pulled over before putting the safety of any of our learners at risk."
On Monday, 16 January 2012, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Dan Plato, praised provincial traffic services for the quick arrest of a school bus driver in the De Doorns area for being under the influence of alcohol.
The driver, carrying 48 seasonal workers on a 60-seater bus, was on his way to pick up learners, when provincial traffic services observed irregular driving behavior and instructed the bus driver to pull over. The driver’s alcohol breath test measured 0.60mg/1000ml – well over the legal limit, and he was immediately detained at the De Doorns Police Station. The driver was then taken to Worcester for the drawing of a blood sample.
Minister Plato said, “The message is clear – we have a zero tolerance approach to learner safety and any driver or bus found to be unfit to drive our learners will not be allowed on our roads. I am deeply concerned by such disregard for human life, especially the lives of our youth – the owners of transport businesses need to take more responsibility in ensuring these situations never happen – thankfully this driver had not picked up any learners at the time of his arrest. Together with my colleagues, the Minister of Education, Donald Grant, and Robin Carlisle, the Minister of Transport in the Western Cape, we will continue with our Operation: Learner Transport, which forms part of our Safely Home campaign, and ensure that our learners arrive at school safe and on time.”
Western Cape Minister of Education, Donald Grant, said the following, "We are working closely with the departments of Community Safety and Transport to ensure learner safety on buses contracted to our learner transport scheme. We believe this campaign is imperative as it sends a strong message to all bus companies that the Western Cape Government will not compromise on learner safety. We are grateful that the driver concerned had been pulled over before putting the safety of any of our learners at risk. The WCED will be investigating the matter further."
Media enquiries:
Minister of Community Safety, Dan Plato
Cell: 076 832 5505
Spokesperson for Minister Plato, Greg Wagner
Cell: 072 623 4499
Province
