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• Bus driver ‘sjamboks pupils’

The provincial education department has consulted Masibambane High pupils over an alleged sjambokking by a school bus driver and will investigate the matter further, says a spokeswoman.

Pupils from the Kraaifontein school, who travel from Fisantekraal, told the Cape Argus on Monday that a bus driver had hit some of them with a sjambok after they insisted on being taken to school on time.

They said they had been late for school on a number of days and had been at the pick-up point at 6.30am. But they said they were told the bus was not for Masibambane pupils.

The bus left with pupils from other Kraaifontein schools. They also claimed the driver of a second bus had thrown a bottle at them.

Masibambane High principal Rajan Naidoo said he had complained to the education department.

Bronagh Casey, spokeswoman for Education MEC Donald Grant, said the principal had made verbal complaints on a number of occasions and had been asked to put these complaints in writing, on an official form.

“Our investigation has found that other schools on this route have also been experiencing problems with lateness on the Abrahams Service.”

Service provider Rudewaan Abrahams told the Cape Argus that the driver denied hitting the children.

He also said that in the past the bus had been late because the children had arrived at the pick-up point late.

ilse.fredericks@inl.co.za - Cape Argus