Despite a budget increase this financial year, thousands of school pupils in KwaZulu-Natal will still have to walk long distances to school due to inadequate funding for their scholar transport.
The Department of Transport revealed that it will be able to transport about 77 000 pupils this financial year, while more than 150 000 pupils who need transport remain on the waiting list.
While tabling his budget last week, MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma stated that there are ongoing engagements between the provincial and national governments to address this issue. “Our commitment to the Learner Transport Programme is a testament to our dedication to opening the doors of learning. This initiative not only provides practical solutions to transport challenges but also inspires hope for a better future among our learners from underprivileged communities,” he said.
The MEC noted that the programme consists of 85 contracts spread across eleven districts. The department is finalising new agreements that will commence in July 2025, as the current contracts come to an end in June 2025. He stated that 433 schools will be assisted in the financial year 2025/26 with a total of 77 369 learners. The department has been allocated additional funds of R50 million, R60 million, and R100 million over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to deliver this service. Thus, the budget for 2025/26 amounts to R341.154 million, up from an initial budget of R291.154 million.
“While the additional funding is a step in the right direction, many learners in KwaZulu-Natal are still left to travel long distances. More than 157 538 learners from about 1 138 schools who qualify for dedicated learner transport remain on the waiting list. The department is actively engaging with the Department of Education, Transport, and Provincial Treasury to find a lasting solution to this issue, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to the Learner Transport Programme,” said MEC Duma.
The chairperson of the committee, Mncedisi Maphisa, highlighted concern, stating that while they noted the department had received additional funding for this function, the funding remains inadequate to meet the needs of the pupils.
DA committee member Riona Gokool said the scholar transport function should be returned to the Department of Education.
“Another glaring failure is the Learner Transport Programme (LTP). In the 2023/24 financial year, the budget for this programme was slashed by R193 million—from R459 million to R266 million—leaving more than 157,000 learners without access to safe and reliable transport to schools. The DA has consistently called for increased funding to address this crisis, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The Department of Transport is far removed from the realities on the ground when it comes to the LTP and is out of line with the objectives of the Department of Education.
She said, “The DA firmly believes that this programme must be returned to the Department of Education for roll-out. This will address key issues around distances travelled by learners, including policy concerns around qualifying criteria. Transparent tender processes must also be introduced to ensure that only capable service providers are contracted. Rural and underserved areas must also be prioritised to ensure that every child gets to school safely and on time.”
THE MERCURY
