Mossel Bay parents hold school transport protest at bus stop

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - A group of deeply concerned parents of Boskamp, Rietvlei, Kleinberg, Patrysfontein and Bartelsfontein gathered in the early hours of Thursday 30 April, in protest against what they claim are negligent and unsafe school transport services.

The school transport provider in question, reportedly contracted by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), daily transports the children of these communities to various schools in the Mossel Bay area.

The group of parents, led by well-known community activist and parent Faizell Porter, gathered in the icy cold before daybreak to demonstrate the daily conditions their children have to endure to get to school on time.

They also refused to send their children to school that day, as part of their protest.

Porter told Mossel Bay Advertiser the group’s main concerns are the overall safety and well-being of their children, as well as the multiple allegations of reckless driving, driving under the influence, unroadworthy vehicles, and a lack of communication between the driver and/or owner of the transport service provider when it comes to the children’s whereabouts, hours after school has ended.

He alleges that the children sometimes have to walk home more than 20km when the transport provider fails to pick them up from school, without notifying their parents, resulting in their arrival home only at 18:00 in the evenings.

Porter confronted the owner of the transport provider during Thursday’s protest, asking for an explanation as to why there had been little to no response on the WhatsApp group they are all on, including from the owner, and as recently as the day before.

“You know very well that we asked you multiple times yesterday about the whereabouts of our children,” he said. “You say: ‘What do you mean, Mr Porter?’ What kind of an attitude is that?”

“We were late yesterday afternoon,” was the owner’s response. “They [the children] are picked up late, but they’re picked up.” He declined to deliver additional comment.

Additionally, Porter claimed that other unknown and unlicensed drivers have been transporting the children, reportedly at the request of the primary transport provider.

“Contracted transport providers may only subcontract with prior written approval from the WCED,” said Bronagh Hammond, the WCED’s communications director, in response to questions the Advertiser had sent the department on Thursday morning.

“This is subject to a formal service level agreement between the parties, together with the submission of the required documentation to head office.”

Hammond told the Advertiser that all contracted learner transport providers carry primary responsibility for the safety of learners during transit, which includes ensuring that their vehicles are roadworthy, that the drivers are appropriately licensed and in possession of valid professional driving permits (PDPs), and that all required safety and operational standards are met.

“Additionally, schools also play an important role in monitoring transport safety through monthly checklists coupled with the district office’s ad hoc investigations,” she said.

One of the group’s main demands to the WCED is for the current transport service provider to be replaced with another who should be more aware of the safety and well-being of the learners they transport.

The Advertiser had previously reported on Porter’s similar concerns earlier this year, soon after the schools had opened for the 2026 academic year.

In a video taken from inside a school bus carrying some Mossel Bay learners, which was shared on social media on 29 January, an open and seemingly broken bus door can be seen while the vehicle appears to be moving - at quite a speed.

The transport provider Porter reported in January is believed to be the same provider who is the subject of these recent complaints, but this could not be confirmed.

In response to the video and Porter’s complaints earlier this year, the WCED had launched an investigation into the transport provider. Hammond confirmed on 16 April that as part of the investigation, the WCED had held an engagement with the transport provider about a month ago.

The WCED addressed the performance concerns with them and set clear expectations, outlining non-negotiable requirements for compliance.

“The department maintains continuous communication with all service providers, particularly in instances in which there may be concerns regarding compliance with contractual requirements,” said Hammond.

She also said the contract between the department and the transport provider has remained in place due to contractual obligations.

The group gathered at the entrance to Bartelsfontein during the early hours of Thursday 30 April, in protest against what they claim are poor standards of school transport. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz