MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC/the Commission) North West Provincial Office (NWPO), this week resumed its investigative inquiry into scholar transport challenges in the province where the, HoD Dr Hans Kekana, and Acting Chief Director, Mpho Rantona of the departments of Community Safety and Transport Management responded to their inquiry.
The iniquiry examined and assessed the challenges affecting the provision of learner transport, especially in rural and underprivileged communities, following numerous complaints about inadequate, unreliable, and unsafe scholar services that undermine learners’ constitutional rights.
During the first leg of the inquiry, which was convened from in 11-13 March, the Commission received extensive oral and written submissions from stakeholders to assess the scope of scholar transport challenges and the government’s response.
However, owing to time constraints and the amount of evidence yet to be heard, the inquiry was adjourned.
In the second leg of the inquiry, the Commission will hear further evidence from the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA), the MEC for Education in the North West, civil society organisations and transport service providers, who faced significant criticism during the initial round.
The inquiry informed a comprehensive investigative report with findings and recommendations to secure safe, reliable, and accessible transport for all learners.
In response, the departmental HoD said they welcomed the commission investigation sighting that they have taken important notes from the commission which highlighted a lot challenges in the scholar transport, including the current Service level Agreement (SLA), which does not make any provision for learners with disabilities and the safety and protection of learners in buses.
