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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is calling for an urgent intervention into a learner transport issue in Topline, that has sparked a learner-initiated protest and is preventing matriculants from writing their exams.

The DA became aware of the closure of the N14 by learners of Groblershoop High School, parents and concerned community members this morning. They are angry and are burning tyres and blocking the road because learner transport has come to a halt, preventing children from getting to school.

The situation is believed to have resulted from a situation whereby the contracted transporter apparently doesn’t have enough fuel, or funds for that matter, to transport learners because he has yet to receive payment.

The DA wasted no time in reporting the matter to a range of education officials at a district and provincial level, including addressing the issue directly with the Head of the Department, Moira Marais-Martins.

We are perturbed by the slow response and lack of urgency from all the education stakeholders. By 10:00 this morning, the district office had not arrived at the scene of the protest. Based on the submission of the HOD, the department has in fact been aware of the brewing problems relating to Topline learner transport, yet failed to act on it effectively and efficiently. If they had, they might have prevented what has now become a crisis.

The DA wants the matter resolved as a matter of urgency. We will continue to push the department to diligently act within their powers to avert such crises as a result of unstable relationships with service providers and contractors.

Given the likelihood of school-related tension spilling over into surrounding communities, we are also calling for urgent attention to be given to Kakamas High School, which was placed under administration, as announced just yesterday. While we acknowledge that the department is addressing the issues, the fact that the school does not even have printing paper to print examination papers on, is infuriating the local community.

Both situations must be prioritized today, to prevent another school protest from disrupting schooling again tomorrow.

Issued by Priscilla Isaacs, MPL - DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson on Education