The scholar transport challenges in the North West are expected to take a centre stage again as the second leg of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Investigative Inquiry resumes on Tuesday in Mahikeng.
The inquiry, prompted by numerous complaints and concerns about unsafe and unreliable school transport in the province, unravelled numerous inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the sector.
Speaking on You FM Newshour, the commission’s Provincial Manager Shirley Mlombo said that the inquiry seeks to examine and assess the challenges affecting the provision of learner transport.
She said this is especially in rural and underprivileged communities, following numerous complaints about inadequate, unreliable, and unsafe scholar services that undermine learners’ constitutional rights.
“We are continuing with the hearing of evidence as part of the inquiry, we are expecting to continue with the evidence of the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management (COSATMA) since they couldn’t finish giving their evidence on the last the occasion (11 to 13 in March 2025) due to time constraints as well as the evidence of the MEC for Education who wasn’t available on the last occasion,” said Mlombo.
North West MEC for Education Viola Motsumi came under heavy criticism for undertaking an observer mission trip attending the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, missing the inquiry where she was supposed to give a presentation.
Mlombo highlighted that Motsumi has since provided a report on why she wasn’t available to appear before the inquiry.
“As indicated previously, we did reach out to the MEC (Viola Motsumi) and provide her with an opportunity to make submissions on her non-availability on the last occasion.
She did respond with written submissions which will be ventilated further at the inquiry on 28 April 2025,” Mlombo explained.
SAHRC has confirmed that it received extensive oral and written submissions from stakeholders to assess the scope of scholar-transport challenges and the government’s responses.
“The second leg is a two-day inquiry, because we not only receiving evidence of COSATMA and Education, but we are also receiving further evidence from other stakeholders including lawyers for human rights as well as some representatives from the scholar transport service providers.
Because on the last occasion there were many allegations that were levelled against them, so they have also been invited to make their submissions and share their perspective on the challenges that they’re facing as transport service providers which may also be contributing to the challenges that were narrated to us,” Mlombo expanded
SAHRC’s inquiry will inform a comprehensive investigative report with findings and recommendations to secure safe, reliable, and accessible transport for all learners.
