A scholar transport strike in the Ngqushwa Local Municipality has severely disrupted learning over the past two weeks, leaving many learners unable to attend school and missing examinations.
The strike involves scholar transport operators affiliated with a local taxi association, who are protesting over unresolved payment disputes with the provincial Department of Transport.
According to the operators, the department allegedly made partial payments to only certain individuals within the organisation, leaving many transport providers without compensation.
The ongoing dispute has frustrated parents and community members, who say the lack of transport has forced the majority of learners to remain at home.
Only Grade 12 learners have reportedly continued attending classes as they prepare for their final examinations.
The Border Alliance Taxi Association says urgent intervention from the Department of Transport is needed to resolve the impasse and restore scholar transport services.
Association spokesperson Cebolekhaya Bhuwa called on parents to work directly with the taxi association so their concerns could be escalated to the relevant authorities.
“The problem is not with us. The main problem is not receiving payments from the Department of Transport. Now I plead that the parents will come forward to our offices so that we take them to the head offices of Amatole West. They need to lay their complaints and all their comments so that the Department of Transport may see and hear the frustration from the community,” Bhuwa said.
Parents have raised concerns about the impact the prolonged disruption could have on learners’ academic progress, particularly with examinations already underway in some schools.
The Department of Transport has yet to publicly respond to the latest grievances raised by the transport operators.
