Taxis transporting pupils in the Pixley ka Seme District were suspended on Monday due to non-payment.
Image: Supplied
LEARNER transport providers in the Pixley ka Seme District suspended their services on Monday due to non-payment by the Northern Cape Department of Education.
Service providers stated that the last payment was received on February 15.
“We are aware that this affects the end-of-term examinations, including Grade 12 pupils who will not be able to write this week,” they said.
“It's not what we want to do, but we have no choice as we are unable to refuel our vehicles or renew expired licences. If the government does not have money, how are we supposed to function without an income?”
A notice was issued on March 5 informing service providers that the department was experiencing financial constraints and would not be able to settle invoices by the end of the month.
A meeting has been arranged for service providers to meet at the provincial offices of the Department of Education on March 19.
Some bus owners stated that they did not have money to travel to Kimberley or renew their licences without receiving payment from the department.
Parents added that 150 pupils are being transported from Bongani near Douglas to Bucklands in five buses that are heavily overcrowded.
“There are over 30 pupils that are squashed into a 16-seater and it is not safe. It would be more cost-effective to hire a big bus,” the parents said.
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said a meeting was held on Monday to address payment-related concerns for February.
“We received information from learner transporters regarding their intention to shut down learner transport services in the province,” said Van der Merwe.
“The only disruptions recorded today occurred in the Douglas area, where 17 routes were not operational, affecting 402 learners. The department can confirm that learner transport in the Northern Cape is not in crisis. We have 30 days to process the payments to transport operators, and we are well within this time frame.”
He appealed to the Northern Cape learner transporters to act in good faith, fulfil their responsibilities and provide a safe and reliable transport service for pupils.
“The payments for February 2025 will be made within this week,” he added.
Pupils writing their first-term exams were unable to travel to school on Monday due to buses that suspended their services in the Pixley ka Seme District due to non-payment.
Image: Supplied
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