R510 road accident: DA demands an audit and stringent safety compliance for Limpopo scholar transport

The DA in Limpopo calls on Education MEC, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya, to conduct an audit of scholar transport vehicles to ensure their suitability to transport learners and urgently implement stringent safety compliance measures for scholar transport operators. This follows an unfortunate head-on collision accident between a scholar transport bus and a Toyota Hilux yesterday on the R510 road between Northam and Thabazimbi, that may have possibly been caused by reckless driving. All 109 learners reportedly survived the accident, with some learners sustaining minor injuries.

The safety of learners needs to be prioritised, and accidents like this should be prevented through strict compliance with safety measures aimed at safely transporting learners. A thorough audit of scholar transport vehicles contracted to the department and operating in the province should be carried out to ensure all necessary safety precautions are adhered to by transport operators.

Accidents that involve learners continue to occur far too frequently. Over the years, the province has faced many challenges with learner transport, ranging from a lack of scholar transport, late appointment of operators, unsuitable vehicles, and alleged scholar transport tender irregularities.

Lerule-Ramakhanya needs to ensure there is greater cooperation with the Department of Transport and Community Safety in order to ensure the compliance and safety of learner transport vehicles. Operations to impound scholar transport that contravenes transport legislation have proven to be successful and should be intensified and carried out more frequently. Scholar transport operators who do not meet the set standards should also be blacklisted.

Limpopo law enforcement officers need to be more visible and enforce traffic laws at all times. This includes ensuring that learner transport vehicles on our roads are roadworthy and adhere to occupancy restrictions.