Soweto pupils planned a march to the Gauteng premier’s office in Johannesburg on Friday afternoon in protest against a lack of school buses, the Congress of South African students (Cosas) said.
”Since this term began, many students have been left stranded due to the lack of transport and the Department of Education is to blame,” Cosas provincial chairperson Percy Ntsolo said.
Most pupils in the township did not attend classes on Friday as Cosas had mobilised them to join the march.
”Nearly 22 000 learners have joined the march. We will meet at Library Gardens and then march to the premier’s office.”
Ntsolo said Cosas had raised the issue with the provincial education department, but no action had been taken.
”The learners do not have transport and the only thing the department is doing is chowing money. It is a pity that those who are seriously affected are too young to speak for themselves.”
Ntsolo said the pupils will ask the premier to intervene as the department had failed to resolve the matter.
Gauteng education provincial minister Angie Motshekga condemned Cosas’s action.
”I am extremely disturbed by the disruptions of schools, especially on the eve of matric examinations,” Motshekga said in a statement.
”I will request my district officials to arrange catch-up programmes for the affected learners, especially the grade 12 learners.”
Department spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said Cosas’s action was uncalled for as buses were available to take pupils to school.
”The problem was solved yesterday [Thursday]. Buses were available this morning to transport children to school,” Lesufi said.
Ntsolo dismissed Lesufi’s claims as ”pure lies”.
”There were no buses this morning; I know because I am also affected,” he said.
Lesufi said the department will arrange a meeting with Cosas after the march.
South African Bus Operators’ Association spokesperson Eric Cornelius said most bus operators had resumed transporting pupils to school after a dispute with the education department over unpaid claims.
”The situation is close to normal. But I have no idea what is happening in different areas,” Cornelius said.
He said between 70% and 80% of bus operators had been paid by Thursday.
”I am sure everything will be back to normal on Monday.” he said. — Sapa