Insufficient budget for learner transport
DESPITE the risk to pupils' lives, the KZN Department of Education (DOE) stated there is simply not enough budget to supply learner transport for around 100 000 pupils.
KZN education head of department Nkosinathi Ngcobo was speaking on Monday at the accident site on the N2 near Pongola where a truck collided with a bakkie carrying 18 pupils and a teacher.
All 20 occupants, including the driver, died on impact.
Ngcobo visited with acting premier Nomagugu Simelane, KZN Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Sipho Hlomuka, and KZN education acting MEC Bongi Sithole-Moloi.
Ngcobo said his department provides 60 000 pupils with transport, but there are about 100 000 pupils who qualify.
“This means there are learners who deserve to be provided with transport, but owing to our budget constraints, are not getting it.
“Our policy concerning this matter says a learner must not travel more than 5km to school, but because of the vastness of the province, some of these pupils who qualify cannot be provided for, owing to insufficient budget,” said Ngcobo.
He said, in cases such as this, parents arrange transport where they can.
Simelane said the truck driver needs to be charged with murder, not culpable homicide.
“Upon inspecting the accident scene and receiving a technical briefing on what might have caused the accident, we are convinced it’s tantamount to murder and the driver should be charged as such.
“Families will never be able to see their children again, and he must languish in jail. We will leave that to the courts but it should not be culpable homicide,” said Simelane.
Addressing the families at Godlwayo Thusong Centre, Simelane announced several interventions to assist grieving families, including support with funeral arrangements and counselling for families and pupils.
“We have brought relevant government entities including the Road Accident Fund, which will assist family members with claims,” said Simelane.
Government will meet with South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) to discuss the issue of
expanding the N2 Pongola strip.
“Extending the road would be a long project that can take years. Immediate intervention would be to erect speed humps and increase law enforcement working with the provincial Road Traffic Inspectorate and local traffic officers.
“MEC Hlomuka will meet with Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula this week, and we will also meet with trucking companies.
“We cannot sit and relax while the trucks are terrorising communities and other road users in uPhongolo,” Simelane concluded.