Cofimvaba parents protest after scholar transport cancelled

A teacher at Sikhoba Nombewu Technical says about 200 learners have been unable to get to the school because there is no scholar transport for them. Photo: Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik

The return to school for learners in the Eastern Cape continues to be plagued by a lack of scholar transport.

Parents in Cofimvaba took to the streets on Wednesday and continued to protest on Thursday. They blocked the entrance to Sikhoba Nombewu Technical School.

Their children need transport from the surrounding villages: Qamata is 26km away; St Marks, 30km; Matshona, 14km; and Magwala village 10km.

A teacher told GroundUp about many learners who are currently missing classes. Sicelo Sikani, a parent, said about 100 learners have been left stranded just in Qamata and St Marks.

In April 2023, scholar transport to these areas was cancelled because Sikhoba Nombewu is regarded as a school of choice for these learners. This is because there are other high schools closer to them. But parents argued these are not technical schools, and the school equips their children with practical skills. It also has a 95% matric pass rate.

The parents protested and the route was reinstated.

Eastern Cape education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said scholar transport lies with the transport department. The Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Bhinqose said they transport learners based on lists from the education department. There were 309 learners on the list last year and this year only 167, a difference of 142 learners.

“At our last meeting with the education department in August, they promised to get back to us within 14 days. It’s been months now and they never returned to us,” said Sikani.

He is unemployed and relies on social grants. He cannot afford private transport for his son.

“For the past two days we have been walking from Qamata, some of us hitchhiking, to come here to protest for our children. Today at 3am I was awake, preparing to come here. I’m tired as hell, but I don’t have a choice,” he said. “If I don’t fight for him to get scholar transport, this will mean that every day he will walk more than six hours to attend classes.”

Sinovuyo Salakutyelwa has three children at the school. She too is unemployed and relies on social grants. She had just bought new uniforms for two of her children for the new school year.

“All these years the government has been providing us with scholar transport … The department should have told the school not to accept our children if they do not have scholar transport,” she said.

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