The DA will submit safety policy recommendations on Learner Transport Programme (LTP) to KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Department of Education ahead of the upcoming budgetary review process.
The move follows an incident in Mandeni, northern KZN, earlier this week which resulted in 15 learners being injured after the open vehicle they were travelling in lost control and overturned. The DA will request a formal enquiry into the incident over and above the current South African Police Service (SAPS) probe.
In June 2023, the DA called for a review of the department’s budget allocation, particularly for LTP. This after it was cut by R193million despite 157 538 KZN learners still needing transport to and from school and with R1.6billion required to clear the waiting list.
A DoE written parliamentary reply to questions by the DA further established that at least 20 528 KZN learners currently utilise overloaded learner transport, with R215million required to rectify this.
Every day, thousands of learners in our province are forced to walk long distances to and from school, in all weather and often under dangerous circumstances, with some having to cross rivers to receive an education. This untenable situation has existed for years under the then ANC-run government.
KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) now has an opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of thousands of young people by allocating budget where it matters. The DA is committed to the establishment of a KZN Schools Evaluation Authority which would assist with a LTP turn-around strategy which must include;
• Increasing hostel accommodation for rural-based schools
• Ensuring private public partnerships to ensure efficient LTP roll out
• Working with KZN’s Department of Transport (DoT) to ensure LTP vehicle safety and that drivers meet departmental criteria.
Until these issues are dealt with, our children will continue to bear the burden of an education system unable to meet the demands required and the loss of life associated with that failure.