The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has found that the scholar transport system in the North West province violates the human rights of learners, particularly those from poor and rural communities and learners living with disabilities.
The Commission released its findings in Rustenburg on Monday, following an investigation into the province’s Scholar Transport Programme.
In its report, the SAHRC said systemic failures in the programme amount to violations of learners’ constitutional rights, including the right to basic education.
“The Commission found that learners are unable to access schooling in a safe, reliable and consistent manner,” the report stated.
It further highlighted violations of the right to equality and human dignity, noting that learners are subjected to unsafe, undignified and unequal transport conditions.
The report also raised concerns about the right to safety and security, citing exposure to unsafe vehicles, overloading and a lack of supervision, as well as the right to protection from neglect, abuse and degradation, particularly where learners are transported in hazardous conditions or left stranded without adequate support.
The Commission noted that the impact of these failures falls disproportionately on poor and rural learners, as well as those with disabilities.
Reacting to the findings, North West Transport Committee Chairperson Freddy Sonakile said the report would require serious enforcement.
“It’s going to be a mammoth task, but it comes at the right time,” Sonakile said.
The SAHRC has called for urgent remedial action to ensure learners’ rights are upheld and their safety guaranteed.