LTS operators set to get 90% of full load

SCHOLAR transport operators in the province are waiting for the promised confirmation from the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) that it would be paying each Learner Transport Scheme (LTS) contractor 90% of a full load.

According to an email sent to the South African National Small Bus Operators Council (Sanboc) and the Southern African Bus Operators Council (Saboa) by Paul Swart, director for Institutional Resource Support in the WCED a letter would be issued to the two council “as early as possible on Monday (today)”.

“Whereafter district directors will immediately be informed that payments in respect of LTS contractors for the period July 6-24 may commence,” said Swart in the email.

This comes after the operators expressed their dismay saying they were feeling the salary pinch, and were left in the dark after the closing of schools and the reintroduction of a phased return.

Saboa provincial chairperson Nazeem Dollie said they were now happy with the department’s response; however, they would have loved 100%, “but 90% across the board is better than 70% that operators were getting paid for the first phase”.

Sanboc spokesperson Praveen Singh said they were in talks with the WCED. “According to the transport department we are now allowed to carry 100% capacity, but that does not make sense to us.”

“How can you carry a full capacity of pupils and when they arrive at school they are expected to social distance?”

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said they met with the representatives from the Sanboc and the Saboa on Monday last week.

Hammond also said the department had held meetings previously with those organisations and it was agreed then that bus operators would be expected to implement cleaning procedures in line with legislation and the measures outlined to prevent and combat the spread of Covid-19 in the transport sector.