Mapaballo Borotho
- Hundreds of learners were left stranded after several scholar transport vehicles were impounded for non-compliance.
- The operation followed the deadly Vaal crash that claimed the lives of 14 learners earlier this week.
- Transport authorities insist contingency plans were in place, but drivers say the plan is impractical on the ground.
Hundreds of learners were left stranded on Thursday afternoon as they waited to be picked up from school, following a joint transport operation that saw several scholar transport vehicles being impounded by authorities.
More than 60 scholar transport vehicles were impounded for non-compliance, while three people were arrested for overloading school learners on Thursday morning while ferrying children to school.
The operation in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, follows the tragic death of 14 learners in the Vaal after their scholar transport collided head-on with a truck earlier this week while attempting to overtake several vehicles, once again highlighting the dangers on South African roads.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said authorities had anticipated the impoundments and made plans to ensure that learners would still be dropped off and collected from schools.
However, some learner transport drivers have described the plan as impractical on the ground. They argue that they do not have the capacity to transport learners in the same manner, including dropping them off at individual homes.
The learner transport drivers’ association has announced a peaceful protest for Friday and says parents have been alerted. They are also calling for urgent interventions to ensure that learners get home safely while compliance issues are being addressed.
Meanwhile, the families of the 14 schoolchildren killed in the Vanderbijlpark accident have welcomed the amendment of charges against the driver.
Ayanda Dludla now faces 14 counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder.
He appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and abandoned his bail application.
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