By OBAKENG MAJE
13 February 2025- The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and Transport Management in the North West Provincial Legislature, conducted an unannounced oversight visit at Moreri Secondary School in Tseoge village, near Ganyesa. The committe’s visited the school to assess scholar transport operations as part of the Oversight Week that the North West Provincial Legislature is currently embarking on in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District.
During the engagement, the Chairperson of the Committee, Freddy Sonakile said they were informed of a tragic incident in October 2024, where a Grade 10 learner lost his life while attempting to board a scholar transport bus. Sonakile said the committee was concerned to learn that no psychological support had been provided to the school following the incident.
“Additionally, serious concerns were raised about passenger liability insurance as it was alleged that neither the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (CoSaTMa) nor the Department of Education had provided any support to the learner’s family.
“Children remain the responsibility of the department, while commuting in scholar transport. When accidents occur, the department, as the custodian of the program, must take full responsibility,” he said.
Sonakile further said the committie will engage the North West MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessels Morweng, to revisit this case and assess the department’s response to similar incidents. He added that, a formal request will be made by the committee to solicit a comprehensive report on scholar transport compliance across the province, including proof of passenger liability insurance for all service providers, as this is a mandatory requirement for operating within the program.
“The committee has repeatedly urged the department to exercise due diligence in awarding scholar transport contracts. Service providers operating without the necessary documentation are a direct liability and the department will be held accountable.
“The era of placing learners’ lives at risk is over. We have extensively engaged the department on scholar transport issues and adopted clear resolutions. Any continued non-compliance, without consequence, signals complicity which will be treated as contempt of the Legislature and dealt with accordingly.” said Sonakile.
The Guardian 