Question NW1659 to the Minister of Basic Education
29 June 2017 - NW1659
Ollis, Mr IM to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)With regard to her department’s presentation to the Portfolio Committees of Basic Education and Transport entitled Scholar Transport Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 23 May 2017, why is scholar transport provision managed by the provincial departments of transport in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West, while it is managed by the provincial departments of education in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Western Cape; (2) have any of the provinces switched their choice of implementing department since the start of the 2010 academic year; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. The location of functions in a province is the prerogative of the Premier of the province and the Executive Council of the respective provinces. It is on this basis that decisions were taken that the function be located with the Department of Transport in Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West provinces whilst it is located with the Department of Education in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and the Western Cape.
2. Yes, in five (5) provinces: Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, the function was transferred from the Provincial Education Department to the Provincial Department of Transport. The Eastern Cape transferred the function to the Department of Transport in 2011. The Northern Cape transferred the function in 2012, KwaZulu-Natal in 2012, and Free State in 2014. In KwaZulu-Natal, the function was transferred back to the Department of Education with effect from 01 April 2017.