The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) has called on the Gauteng Department of Education to temporarily shut down all schools in the province until ongoing scholar transport issues are resolved.
The demand comes as thousands of learners continue to miss classes due to a strike by scholar transport operators, who have suspended services over unresolved payment disputes with the department.
Learners across several parts of Gauteng are entering another week without reliable transport to school, with many left stranded or forced to walk long distances.
The Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council has accused the department of failing to settle outstanding payments owed to service providers, prompting operators to halt their services.
COSAS Gauteng central core coordinator, Ntefeleng Sonke, described the situation as unjust and said continuing lessons while some learners are unable to attend undermines equal access to education.
“As COSAS we say an injury to one learner is an injury to all,” Sonke said. “It is unacceptable for teaching and learning to continue while other learners remain stranded due to operational challenges affecting scholar transport services. We are calling for the immediate shutdown of all schools in Gauteng until this matter is resolved.”
Affected learners have also appealed to authorities to reach an agreement with operators as soon as possible.
Sixteen-year-old Kamohelo Molefe from Villa Liza in Boksburg said the strike has made attending school increasingly difficult.
“The strike has affected many of us because sometimes we arrive late at school,” Molefe said. “Our parents cannot always afford taxi fares, especially if there are three learners in one house. We end up walking long distances.”
Education stakeholders warn that prolonged disruptions could have lasting consequences for academic progress, as pressure mounts on the department to end the impasse and restore transport services because for many pupils, the school day now starts with a long walk rather than a classroom bell.