“It is painful that the children are unable to go to school, and instead of going to work, I am now accompanying my child to school. I had to call my boss at night yesterday [Wednesday] to tell her that I will not be coming to work because of this situation,” Sihlangu said.
She said it had taken them an hour to get to school. The school serves children living on nearby farms and surrounding rural settlements such as Piet Tlou.
Another parent, Sarah Ntshoane, said: “I left my place at 6.30am and got here at 7.30am. I went to meet other kids halfway to ensure that they get to school safe.”
Mkhulu Combined School’s SGB chairperson Skhumbuzo Mabaso said some students walked up to 7km to reach the school.
“With the parents that are here we will head to the department of public works to demand that they pay service providers because kids cannot afford such long distance to get to school. Some stay as far 15km away and I don’t think they will come,” he said.
Provincial Small Bus Operators Association secretary Sipho Mndebele said there was a meeting scheduled for Thursday afternoon with the department of public works.
Departmental spokesperson Bongani Dhlamini confirmed the meeting.
“We will issue a statement after the meeting,” said Dhlamini.
On Wednesday, he said the delay was due to the cut-off date of the financial year, which concluded in March. He said the department was also implementing a new financial system.
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