The accident involving 71 learners, of which 31 attended More Secondary School in Coligny, happened on Tuesday (17/2) at around 06:45 on a gravel road between Sleepsteen and Gerdau Farms. All learners were traveling from Gamaloka in the Ditsobotla municipality, said North West community safety and transport management MEC Wessels Morweng.

A bus overturned on a gravel road between Sleepsteen and Gerdau Farms near Coligny. Photo supplied 

The injured were treated at the General de la Rey hospital in Lichtenburg and the Coligny clinic. It’s concerning that although the bus is reported to have been roadworthy, it suffered a mechanical failure, which allegedly led to it overturning. 

“Importantly, we will ensure that, with immediate effect, the service provider is terminated, as the cause of the accident has been identified as mechanical failure. In addition, there are allegations that the driver involved is a Zimbabwean national, and police are investigating whether he possesses the relevant documents. 

“That being said, the service level agreement (SLA) is very clear: such a situation should never occur.”

One of the department’s key challenges is service providers are not the actual owners of the buses, but instead rent them. This arrangement has created difficulties in ensuring reliability and accountability, said Morweng. 

The department has therefore restarted the project from scratch, with a focus on restructuring the system. The aim is to ensure bus owners themselves become service providers, so that learners arrive at school on time and the vehicles are properly maintained.

A South African Human Rights Commission report, released on 19 January, highlighted widespread failures and alleged rights violations. The commission issued strict orders with tight deadlines after finding widespread governance failures. 

Poor enforcement

The report cited weak oversight, poor enforcement, and governance lapses across several departments. It also found thousands of qualifying learners are being deprived of transport, forcing them to walk long distances, arrive late for school, or drop out entirely.

Even learners who do receive transport are often subjected to unsafe conditions, the report noted, citing overcrowded and unroadworthy vehicles that frequently break down. 

Morweng acknowledged the seriousness of the challenges, attributing some of the strain to rapid demographic changes and financial constraints. In response, the department has introduced several interventions aimed at improving compliance and stabilising the program.

A war room has been established, chaired by department head Dr Hans Kekana, comprising officials from both the departments of community safety and transport management and education. 

A dedicated compliance team has also been set up to ensure operators adhere to the prescriptions of the SLA. Buses are inspected every six months to confirm roadworthiness, while traffic officers monitor vehicles and impound them if necessary. 

The department has engaged Provincial Treasury to increase the scholar transport budget, which stands at R460m annually. At least R610m is required to adequately service routes and avoid starting a new financial year with accumulated debt, said Morweng.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg