The current inefficiency of the Tshwane bus service is not only inconveniencing residents and commuters, but is apparently also endangering the lives of pupils who are now forced to walk to school.
This was the concern forwarded by parents to the Tshwane Metro Council as it struggles to provide an effective and efficient bus service for residents.
The city’s bus service has been marred by illegal strikes by bus drivers and allegations of widespread corruption, which resulted in the suspension of six managers two weeks ago.
But the Centre for Child Law has now taken up the matter of school children in the Doornpoort area who apparently have to travel more than 30km daily to get to and from school.
The pupils are understood to be walking about 9km from Doornpoort to Zambezi Drive in the north of the city just to catch a taxi to East Lynne, from where they have to walk a further 5-9km to their respective schools.
The service was cut off since June last year and they are hoping to have it restored as soon as possible.
The concerned pupils are those studying at English-medium schools including Northridge Primary School, CR Swart High School, Clapham High School and Rietfontein Noord Primary School.
This has raised concerns about the learners’ safety as the road they walk to catch taxis along Zambezi Drive is quite isolated, posing a danger to the pupils.
One of the concerned parents, Cain Mpofu, has written several letters to the municipality and the Department of Basic Education, and was relieved this week when he finally managed to get a meeting date with an official from the department.
Municipal spokesman Pieter de Necker, said they were looking into the bus service issue as it was affecting thousands of residents who depend on the service for their daily commuting.
De Necker said the issue of buses was discussed at a mayoral committee meeting last week and a way forward would be communicated to residents this week.
“We have been receiving correspondence from various organisations and stakeholders who are being affected by this.
“We are working on the matter and the executive mayor and city manager have been paying attention to this, as we have seen also with the suspension of the six managers and the investigation into the these matters,” said De Necker.
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