Ramaphosa proposes new scholar transport system

Following the tragic scholar transport accident that claimed the lives of 14 children, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the government should explore implementing a public transport system, specifically for learners.

The children died in a horrific crash in Vanderbijlpark earlier this week after their minibus transport attempted to overtake on a narrow road and collided with a truck.

Addressing the Basic Education Lekgotla in Boksburg on Wednesday, Ramaphosa emphasized that the private scholar transportation system needs to be reconsidered.

Ramaphosa says the government needs to draw lessons from the tragic scholar transport accident.

He referenced the yellow school bus model, similar to that used in the United States, as a potential alternative to the current private scholar transport system.

"In other countries, there are these wonderful buses that are clearly labelled school bus. They travel at a moderate speed, and the drivers are well-trained. We haven’t inherited this system – there has been no real public transport for children to go to school.

But for now, Ramaphosa said a serious talk is needed with the scholar transport sector.

"The government now needs to sit back and talk to taxi owners and drivers, and see the extent to which we have to work together to improve scholar transport."

The Gauteng government has confirmed the driver of the scholar transport involved in the fatal crash did not hold a valid professional driving permit.