SACP Eastern Cape is calling for quality scholar transport
29 May 2013
The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Eastern Cape learnt with great astonishment and is outraged by the bus accident which occurred in Engqeleni. The accident claimed five (05) lives of innocent school children and left many others injured and admitted to hospital. This is after the bus that was hired by the Department of Transport for the purpose of transporting these kids to and from school had overturned.
As the SACP we convey our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities who lost their children in this accident and wish a speedy recovery to those still in hospital due to injuries sustained in this accident. Your children died in their mission to acquire education to develop themselves and their communities, in their honour we should strive to get to the bottom of this accident and justice for the people affected by this accident.
We are calling upon the Provincial Government in particular the Department of Transport and the Department of Education to relook the current scholar transport arrangement. There is a need for monitoring and accountability of the scholar transport to be the primary responsibility of our government and not be outsourced to selfish tenderpreneurs. If this important function of monitoring and accountability continues to be outsourced the corruption network between some government officials and tenderpreneurs will not be isolated and defeated.
As the SACP in the Province; we have heard many disturbing reports about the alleged corruption and the collapse of governance in the entity responsible the scholar transport in the Eastern Cape Province. This cannot go unattended and unresolved if we are to ensure a brighter future of our children and our province.
It is now the time for our government to say and make sure that not anymore should we lose our children on their quest to acquire education whilst millions of rands are being spent in this scholar transport program. It is important to note that these millions of rands are spent in this scholar transport with very little evidence that they are going towards providing safe and quality public transport for the learners.
We are calling upon our government to intervene on behalf of the people and make sure that there is no stone left unturned in relation to these continuing accidents involving young innocent pupils. Those who might be found to have fluctuated processes to be brought to book, drastic action should be taken against those who are collaborating in using depilated vehicles to transport children in pursuit of lining their pockets.
Issued by the SACP Eastern Cape.
Contact:
Siyabonga Mdodi
SACP Provincial Spokesperson
083 3588 070
