To help prevent the deaths of scholars on our roads, the wheels have been set in motion to establish a formal body that will govern and represent the interests of all scholar transport drivers in the province.
READ | ‘No one should go through what the families are going through’: Mitchell’s Plain engulfed by grief
Following the tragic incident on Tuesday 30 May along AZ Berman Drive, which claimed the lives of five primary school children, scholar transport drivers from Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha and Samora Machel/Philippi threatened to down tools in order to meet with transport authorities and air their grievances.
This was meant to happen at the beginning of June.
Western Cape Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie then met with representatives to find a working solution.
Denver van Aarde, chair of the Mitchell’s Plain Scholar Transport Association, says they have already reached out to 20 transport groups in areas across the Metro.
In their meeting, Mackenzie emphasised the importance of adhering to all regulations and requirements related to scholar transport and urged the establishment of a collective body to take the agenda and interests of these drivers forward.
“The response we got thus far has been overwhelming. We are very glad for the steps the government and the transport board are taking,” says van Aarde.
“We have already reserved the name Western Cape Scholar Transport Board.”
A meeting for interested parties is set to be held next week.
Van Aarde shares that many drivers are unregistered.
“A lot of our drivers don’t even know if their vehicles fall within the year model where they can register to be scholar transport drivers,” he says.
There is a three-stage approach to bringing the scholar transport fraternity to board, he says.
This includes financing options for newer vehicles and reclassification of vehicles.
“Many of our vehicles are not viable for us to apply for and get permits.”
ALSO READ | Calls grow to ban ‘unregulated’ scholar vehicles in wake of horror Mitchell’s Plain crash
The body will seek to engage the government on possible wavers based on criteria that include roadworthy certificates and correct loading, as well as all required driving documentation to rectify this.
According to law, bakkies are not allowed in the transportation of any persons for financial gain.
All unregistered vehicles can also be impounded. “The law provides for such vehicles to be impounded (section 87 of the NLTA). Through the Transport Priority Committee, we will develop integrated enforcement plans to deal with illegal learner transport operators,” says Mackenzie.
There is around 250 drivers in the Mitchell’s Plain area. These are those known through a WhatsApp group and not all of them belong to the Mitchell’s Plain Scholar Transport Association, says van Aarde.
“What we are doing now is urging the drivers to join up with us and come as one so that we can speak as one,” he says. “To see the loss of our children this way, it is very sad when you are in the industry.”
He says they look forward to working on the regulations to govern who can and cannot transport scholars and other regulations to avoid another tragedy like this occurring.
Safety is the main goal for governent, and this is what they want to instill in drivers operating in the industry.
“We want everyone to know and have peace of mind that this is someone transporting children and there is order and safe,” says van Aarde.
They are calling for other drivers to join the initiative.
“Everyone is sitting with the same problems and suffering the same losses, so we want to come together as one body and strengthen that relationships with our community and clients,” he says.
While all is being done to create a safer transport industry, van Aarde encourages parents to also take responsibility in checking out the vehichles transporting their children.
- For more information on the propossed body, call Denver van Aarde on 0733274660.
