By Thapelo Molefe
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Eastern Cape has criticised the provincial departments of Education and Transport over a scholar transport crisis that has left more than 200 learners at home for more than two weeks.
In a statement on Monday evening, the party said it met with affected parents at the Rhubusana District Office on Friday, where officials led by Acting District Director Vuyiseka Siciko committed to taking urgent steps to ensure the learners returned to school from Monday.
However, the EFF said parents were again left frustrated after the commitment was not fulfilled.
“Instead, they have once again been met with excuses, delays and shifting explanations from government,” the party said.
The EFF accused the Department of Transport, which it said is responsible for the administration and funding of scholar transport, of failing to provide a solution to the crisis.
The party said the Department of Education had at least attempted to intervene, but accused Transport of showing a lack of political will to resolve the matter.
The EFF said the problem was not isolated, pointing to previous scholar transport disruptions in Buffalo City that it claimed had affected thousands of learners and resulted in lost teaching time and missed examinations.
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It said the continued disruptions showed the need for a more reliable scholar transport system for learners, parents and transport operators.
“Scholar transport is not a favour to poor and working-class children. It is a responsibility of government,” the party said.
The EFF said the affected learners were approaching the final stages of the academic year and could not afford to lose more school days.
The party said it would confront the departments of Education and Transport on Tuesday and demand a permanent solution.
“We will not accept another meeting that produces another promise while learners remain at home,” it said.
The EFF also called on the Department of Transport to account for its handling of the scholar transport programme and said the government must ensure that the learners return to school.
