Durban - Every day parents at a South Coast school pray for the safety of their children when they board buses, which were supposed to have been ordered off the road two weeks ago.
Mdlangathi High School, in the kwaMachi area at Harding, has four buses used to transport pupils to school, but parents have questioned their roadworthiness for some time.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” said governing body member Alfred Mteshane.
He and other parents have complained about buses breaking down and not being safe.
“We let our children ride on these buses provided by the government because we have no other means of transport and we cannot afford to pay taxis. However, these buses are in a very bad condition and they often break down and need to be pushed at times.
“Even a little child can see these buses are not safe – they might cause an accident any time. We have spoken to the principal several times to ask for new buses.”
Two weeks ago, when the KZN transport portfolio committee inspected the buses, parents had hoped they would be taken off the road.
The Sunday Tribune went to the school on Thursday and found the buses were still operating. Two were parked outside waiting for pupils to finish writing exams. Some did not have windscreen wipers or hooters, had missing or non-functioning windows, the seat covers had rips in them, and the buses were rusty.
Mteshane said the buses were also taking pupils from six other schools in the area and had been operating for three years.
All the buses had one thing in common – they were all registered with Mpumalanga number plates. One had a permit to transport passengers which expired in June.
DA MPL Rafeek Shah, who was part of the committee that inspected the buses, described them as “coffins on wheels”.
“Millions of rands in taxpayers’ money are paid annually to contracted transporters to take pupils to and from school, yet it appears some unscrupulous companies have chosen to use buses which belong on a scrap heap, with no concern whatsoever for the pupils’ safety.
“The buses were all registered in Mpumalanga with roadworthy permits valid until 2016. It is clear they could never have passed these tests. This could only have happened if someone literally drove to Mpumalanga with documents in hand, and renewed these licences by paying a bribe at a licensing bureau there.”
Shah said he was disappointed the buses were still transporting pupils after the committee’s visit.
“I am shocked and disappointed. The chairman of the portfolio committee, Mxolisi Kaunda, called the Road Traffic Inspectorate in Harding and instructed them to impound the buses on the day. How come they are still operating? This would not happen if officials within the department were dedicated to their jobs. It would also not happen if the local traffic law-enforcement authorities were diligent,” said Shah.
The Department of Transport has a R185.9 million budget for the year 2015/16 to provide transport to 21 760 pupils attending 226 schools in KwaZulu-Natal.
A department of transport spokesman, Kwanele Ncalane, said it was aware the company providing the buses was not complying with safety standards.
“We have been made aware by the transport portfolio committee and we have instructed the inspectorate to inspect all the buses belonging to that company; and some of the buses which did not meet safety requirements were taken off the road.
“The company is aware that it should not compromise the safety of the passengers.
“As the investigation is continuing, the company will be penalised for failure to comply with safety rules.
“We will also be going to the depot to inspect all the company’s buses.”
Sunday Tribune