Francesca Villette
BUSES for all – that was the clarion call of activists yesterday and more than 200 pupils who have to walk to school in dangerous conditions in the province.
They marched to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) demanding that transport be provided for children living in rural areas.
The department provides transport for children who live 5km or more from their schools.
A survey by the Women on Farms Project has found that many pupils living in Wellington, Wolseley, Grabouw and Stellenbosch are sexually abused or become victims of violence and robbery while on their way to and from school.
Many of the children live further than 5km from their school.
For 12-year-old Asemahle Adams, arriving at school every day means a 45-minute walk through rural terrain, come rain or sunshine.
And she is not alone.
There are hundreds of children who have to do the same.
She has no protection from the elements and on several occasions has had to run fast to flee armed robbers chasing her.
The study, which involved surveying 320 pupils, found that a third of the pupils had experienced sexual abuse or violence while on their way to school.
Half had been robbed while walking to or from school, 25 percent of girl respondents in Wellington had been approached for sex, two girls had been raped and 60 percent of the pupils said that they were unable to attend extra classes or sport because of a lack of transport.
The pupils handed over a memorandum of demands to the WCED acting director for institutional resource support, Mpumelelo Hendricks.
Hendricks said the department would respond to the demands in four weeks.
The demands include an amendment of the 5km transport policy for rural youth and regular visible policing along major walking routes.
WCED spokesperson Paddy Attwell said the department provided transport for pupils from poor communities who lived more than 5km from their nearest school if they did not have hostel accommodation or public transport was not available.
Karen Roos, women’s health and empowerment co-ordinator at the organisation, said the policy could not be applied in rural areas as many streets did not have street lights and there were few safe paths for pupils to walk.
“The personal circumstances of pupils need to be taken into account,” Roos said.
“A child walking even 1km in a rural area is dangerous.”
Attwell said:
“Schools are responsible for applying for transport, in line with policy.
“The department is providing transport for all the pupils concerned.
“The WCED will provide additional transport, as required in terms of policy.
“The department has asked Women on Farms to provide the names of pupils who may qualify for transport, so that we can investigate.”