School-run operators fear for jobs and coronavirus

THEIR wheels and their income came to a grinding halt when the lockdown started, but as schools reopen on Monday, drivers of scholar transport remain unsure of their future.

Parents pay for transport on a monthly basis, so when pupils stopped going to school, it was not needed.

Cebo Lukwe lives in Langa and has a 22-seater bus he uses to transport children to and from Garden Village Primary School in Maitland, a one-way 10km route.

Lukwe said he was going to transport a few Grade 7 pupils whose parents confirmed they would be returning to the classroom. But like many others, Lukwe said he has had to rely on pooling resources with drivers in his neighbourhood to make a profit.

“I have seven children I can drive on Monday, but another driver who doesn’t have a permit said I can drive those children as well,” said Lukwe.

Drivers have also needed to continue paying their bills during the lockdown, including the instalments on their vehicles. With their vans parked and under lockdown, many have struggled to keep up with the payments.

Selobia Petersen, who belongs to the Tygerberg Scholar Transport Association, won’t be driving on Monday. Her husband will be making the school run next week.

“It’s just the grade 7s and the 12s going to school and I only have confirmation from one child’s parents so, unfortunately, I won’t be able to.”

Petersen said she was told by parents their children would only be going to school every second day, making the trip less economical.

“The drivers are worried about their future and where they are going to get their next meal... There are drivers in our association who drive into Delft to fetch children and with the area having so many infections, they are scared of that as well.”