Picture: North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari
By OBAKENG MAJE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West calls for a probe in the North West Scholar Transport tender audit. The DA Spokesperson on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL), Freddy Sonakile said since the reopening of schools in January 2024, they have been inundated with complaints from parents, teachers and learners about the poor state of some scholar transport vehicles.
Sonakile said yesterday’s accident involving scholar transport vehicles for learners at JM Lekgetho Secondary and Gaetsho High Schools is another sad reminder of the poor state of some of these vehicles. He further said an accident allegedly occurred after the steering wheel of the bus broke off and fell on the floor.
“Three learners were admitted to hospital, while more than 20 others received treatment for minor injuries. We are grateful that no serious injuries were recorded. Last year, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), released damning findings against the department for irregularly awarding the previous scholar transport tender.
“This also saw some service providers having to return the payments they already received. Clearly, the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, did not take note of the findings when his department awarded new scholar transport tenders last year,” said Sonakile.
He alleged that the controversies surrounding the North West Scholar Transport tenders confirm the allegations that Lehari and his cabal use it as a political point scoring tool. Sonakile added that they will today write to Lehari, demanding him to submit all the details surrounding this new scholar transport tender.
“The request will include details of the vehicles, owners, roadworthiness certificates and all due processes that were followed by the department in awarding these contracts.
“The mere fact that vehicles that are not roadworthy have been awarded contracts is a cause for serious concern. The DA will not cower from putting pressure on Lehari and his department until the safety of school children are taken seriously,” said Sonakile.
Meanwhile, Lehari said: “According to the report presented, the bus steering wheel came off, whilst the bus was in motion and the driver lost control. The driver allegedly jumped out of the moving bus, which then hit the tree before coming to a stop.
“According to a learner (18) who uses the same bus, this is the second incident, where the bus steering wheel came off. On a previous occasion, I was told that the driver was able to put it back and there was no incident at the time.”
Lehari said this time, unfortunately 22 of the 51 learners on board were taken to the hospitals with injuries. He said the preliminary investigation by the Public Transport Directorate indicated that the operator had rented a bus on the day of the vehicle verification process.
“The service provider would not have been given a service level agreement if this was the bus that was inspected. As per the Service Level Agreement (SLA), this kind of contravention leaves us with no option, but to terminate the agreement with the service provider.
“Following challenges experienced since schools reopened, we have established the ‘War Room’. This is to address challenges as and when reported and where needs arise, operators who are breaching the agreement are replaced,” he said.
The Guardian 