Mossel Bay school bus suspended after roadworthy test failure

Update

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Following a small group of concerned parents’ protest action last month against what they deemed unsafe and negligent school transport services, one of the transport provider’s vehicles, a bus, has been suspended.

This was confirmed by the spokesperson for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Bronagh Hammond, on Thursday 21 May, in response to a query sent by Mossel Bay Advertiser the previous week.

The transport provider in question, known as Sass Transport, is contracted to the WCED to transport children daily to various schools in Mossel Bay and back home to Boskamp, Rietvlei, Kleinberg, Patrysfontein and Bartelsfontein in the afternoons.

“The traffic authorities have inspected one of the buses operated by the transport provider at the Mossel Bay Roadworthy Centre, and it did not pass the roadworthy test. The vehicle in question has since been removed from operation,” said the department.

It is unclear exactly when the test took place.

Hammond added that Sass Transport’s services as a whole have not been discontinued, and that alternative transport arrangements have been implemented “to ensure continuity of service on this particular route”.

The vehicle suspension follows a lengthy back-and-forth between the WCED and the group of parents, led by well-known Mossel Bay community activist Faizell Porter.

He reported Sass Transport to the WCED earlier this year when a video taken from inside one of the buses started doing the rounds. In the video, the bus, carrying some Mossel Bay learners, appears to be travelling at an excessive speed - with an open, presumably broken door.

Porter also had multiple complaints of reckless driving, driving under the influence, unroadworthy vehicles, and a lack of communication from Sass Transport regarding the children’s whereabouts, hours after the school day had ended.

The WCED has confirmed that a meeting has been scheduled with Sass Transport to address the findings of the roadworthy test and reinforce compliance requirements.

“We are actively engaging with the contractor about adherence to all safety and regulatory obligations to ensure that the services are delivered in full compliance with the required standards,” said the department.

Mossel Bay Advertiser contacted the owner of Sass Transport, Jerome Sass, who has denied all allegations. He also denies that one of his vehicles has been suspended by the WCED.

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