School kids stranded at home - again
Teresa Opperman
Learners of Hofmeyr, Tarkastad and Middelburg farm schools are once again stranded at home with no transport to their schools. This comes after the bus and taxi operators responsible for their transport have called a halt to their services, claiming that they have not received any payment from the Department of Transport this year.
At a provincial general meeting of scholar transport operators with the Department of Transport in East London on 18 April, representatives of all the operators in each area complained that no payments have been made. The decision was then taken that as from 19 April, there will be no transportation of learners until further notice. on their way to the Department of Transport in East London on 23 April.
An article regarding the outcome of this meeting will be published at a later stage.
Currently, no learners are being transported to schools, and farm schools are reporting that only five or six children arrive at school. Teachers are continuing with their own administrative tasks, as required by the department, while the children play outside.
In an interview, spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Department of Transport Unathi Binqose said that there are many factors contributing to the delay in payments. He said that non-compliance of invoices, bank account irregularities, as wel as Sars and tax issues of the operators, are to blame for the non-payment of invoices.
“The Department of Transport has the money available, as the new tax year has already started, and payment to these operators will be issued as soon as their paperwork is compliant with the expectations of the Department,” said Binqose.
Read a previous article on this, Leerders ry met Jan Tuisbly at graaffreinetadvertiser.com
The DoT has the money available, and payment to these operators will be issued as soon as their paperwork is compliant with the expectations of the Department,” said Binqose.