COSATU statement on school transport 14 - 01 - 06

COSATU statement on school transport

The Congress of South African Trade Unions is disturbed at the possibility that Gauteng learners could be unable to get to school next week because of a dispute between bus operators and the Provincial Education Department.

We note the claim by the Southern African Bus Operators Association that the department has failed to pay them for three months and that despite several attempts to get answers from the Department, there has not been any response.

COSATU calls upon the Department to resolve this dispute with the utmost urgency and to pay the operators all the money to which they are entitled, and on the operators to resume their full service from the first day of the new term. The interests of the learners must be paramount.

COSATU further believes that this crisis highlights once again the woeful inadequacy of the whole public transport system, which ought to be able to transport the majority of learners to and from school, with special transport only required for special cases.

Instead of wasting billions on the Gautrain, which will do virtually nothing to improve school transport, the Province should use that money for a comprehensive upgrade of all forms of public transport.

They must take advantage of the World Cup in 2010, which will require massive investment to improve the quality and quantity of public transport to and from the stadiums. This should be started immediately and extended to cover journeys to schools, workplaces and other important destinations, so that we see a permanent improvement for all travellers.