It was just after 14:00 on a Thursday and the bell rang to mark the end of the school day. Minutes later, dozens of learners flocked to the pedestrian crossing in Hanover Street, the main thoroughfare through District Six.
The crossing is used by learners from Holy Cross RC Primary School, Walmer Estate Primary School, Zonnebloem Nest Senior School, and Zonnebloem Boys’ Primary School.
When People’s Post visited the area on Thursday 18 April learners could be seen running across the busy road with cars coming to an abrupt standstill to avoid knocking them over.
There were no teachers or scholar patrols in sight.
A parent, who wants to remain anonymous, explains that she collects her child daily. She says she was dismayed when she first witnessed how children ran across the road without supervision.
She explains that she now makes it her duty to stand and watch the learners after school.
“I come to pick up my child and then I stay here for a while to watch as the small children cross. Some of them don’t watch out for the cars. I used to do it only once or twice but now I do this every day.”
The mother says she would be willing to volunteer to become a scholar patroller when asked.
Resident Zubeida Khan adds: “I would like the schools to take some responsibility and to keep the kids out of the street because the kids are getting knocked over. The children run over the road and there is no teacher visibility.”
She explains that it is nerve-wracking to see the children cross the road.
“Two lanes are going into District Six and two lanes going out, you have buses coming through there and the kids run over like it’s nothing. The teachers can take turns each day.”
Catherine Joseph, a general worker at Holy Cross, says on certain days teachers from their school escort the learners as they cross the road.
“In general, the scholar patrol is lacking here. Children are left unattended to cross the road. This is a great concern to me. If they put the plans in place I will even avail myself to stand here. Other principals in the area must also come to the party and appoint some of their teachers.”
She explains that, a month ago, a learner was injured after being bumped by a car.
When asked why scholar patrols are not active in these schools, Millicent Merton, a spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED), referred People’s Post to the Western Cape Mobility Department stating that the department was responsible for training scholar patrols in line with the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s (RTMC) national scholar patrol project.
According to Merton, the schools have regular safety conversations with learners.
“The schools in the particular area have engaged the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services Department for assistance with learner road safety. A traffic official is currently offering talks about road safety to learners at these schools.
“Holy Cross RC Primary School reported that a teacher is on duty at the pedestrian crossing outside the school for 30 minutes when the school is dismissed in the afternoon. Traffic attendants are also stationed at two different points near the school.”
Merton added that schools and the WCED are involved in various initiatives to ensure road safety around schools in collaboration with local authorities and other agencies.
She said the Life Skills curriculum includes:
- The Grade R curriculum warns children about dangerous places to play, including roads.
- Topics under Road Safety in Grade 2 include rules for road safety, pedestrians, cyclists and passengers, road signs for pedestrians and cyclists, scholar patrols and how traffic officials help us.
- In Grade 3 “Safety in public areas” includes the topics: dangerous places to play, such as roads, and safe travel on taxis and trains.
- The Grade 4 curriculum teaches traffic rules relevant to pedestrians and cyclists, and safety on trains.
