The Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture has called on the Western Cape Department of Education to expeditiously devise a catch-up plan for learners who will miss schooling days due to ongoing taxi strike in the City of Cape Town.

The Chairperson Mr Elleck Nchabeleng said the committee is concerned by the violence that broke out on day one of the strike.

“Many of our learners attend school in areas outside where they reside and this necessitates a form of transport. In the Cape Town metro minibus taxis have usurped this function. If they pull out as abruptly as they have done it means so many learners will be affected.”

“In fact, so many learners had been seen along major routes walking home on the first day of the strike. This is a concerning development and should not continue unmitigated.”

Thursday was day one of the taxi strike that followed a collapse of negotiations regarding impounded taxis. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) immediately withdrew from negotiations with the City of Cape Town and announced that it will only return on 10 August.

Mr Nchabeleng said the Western Cape Education Department needs to think of how to compensate and provide alternative learning sessions for the time lost during the strike.

“If no resolution is found sooner, something needs to be done for learners who will miss class time. If the taxi industry goes on strike, it only follows that thousands of learners will be affected.”

Mr Nchabeleng said schools should adopt a flexible approach while the industry and the City tried to find each other. He called on all affected to remember their actions affect society greatly and the cost of their action will still be calculated long into the future.

“But also learners and parents must not attempt to risk their lives by seeking alternative ways to attend school which will expose their lives to danger. Go to school only if it is very safe to do so,” added Mr Nchabeleng.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY, ARTS AND CULTURE, MR ELLECK NCHABELENG.

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Source: Parliament of South Africa