Question NW3608 to the Minister of Transport
24 November 2023 - NW3608
Sithole, Mr KP to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)Whether her department has set out the standardisation for all scholar transport to be managed under her department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether certain provinces still use the Department of Basic Education to provide scholar transport; if not, why not; if so, who is responsible for the breakdown of the management responsible for scholar transport in each province where the department of Basic Education is being used?
Reply:
1. The Department has developed the National Learner Transport Policy that set policy directives in respect to the provision of the learner transport operations nationally. The policy directives provide amongst others, the criteria for inclusion of learners into the National Learner Transport Programme, and safety considerations in respect approved operators and vehicles. Furthermore, the department has developed operational guidelines to guide provinces in the implementation of the policy.
2. The function is managed by the Provincial Departments of Transport in four (4) provinces, namely: North West; Mpumalanga; Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal. In five (5) provinces, the function is managed by the Provincial Departments of Education, namely: Gauteng; Limpopo, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State.