By: Zethu Gweva
Aphelele Ngobe from Thembalethu who is in grade 11 at Sophathisana Senior Secondary School limps to school everyday.
According to Ngobe he fractured his right leg after he was hit by a bicycle in Duncan Village. He said the long distance he walks from home to school pains his right leg.
“I have to walk to a steep cement ground then walk all the way to school. I am always late for my morning classes and my teacher gives me a hiding,” he said.
The School Governing Body Chairperson Nosakhele Tapi expressed her frustration on the unavailability of scholar transport since the beginning of the year.
Tapi said pupils from Chicken farm, Thembalethu and Khayelitsha walk to school. She said they were promised to receive scholar transport on the second of this month but till this day the pupils continue to walk to school.
“In March, we went to the Department of Education to inquire about transport, we were told everything was sent to the Department of Transport. We went to DOH three times and even wrote letter but no response,” she said.
Tapi conveyed that as parents they fear for their children’s safety as they get raped and robbed.
One of the parents who did not want to be mentioned said they have grade 12 learners who can not attend morning classes due to transport constraints.
He said learners like Aphelele are struggling and as parents they cannot tell their children not to go to school because it would affect their marks negatively.
“If we wanted to resort to striking we would have but we want to treat this matter with professionalism. We are giving the Department of Transport chance to provide transport for us,” he said.
According to Eastern Cape Department of Transport Spokesperson Unathi Binqose, the department was busy with finalising paperwork which included vehicles. This is to ensure that all vehicles are in a good state to transport children. He said that on Monday everything will be finalised.