TIYANI, Collins Chabane — Learners from New Look 1 and New Look 2 areas in Tiyani village are walking more than 6 kilometres each day to reach schools, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo said in a press release on 13 August. The party has urged the provincial Education MEC to intervene, saying many of these pupils meet the provincial distance criteria for scholar transport.
Long daily walks and wide age range
The DA reported that pupils from Grade R to Grade 12 are affected. With no nearby school in the immediate settlements, children are required to travel long distances every school day. Under current provincial policy, learners who live 5 kilometres or more from their school should qualify for scholar transport.
DA Limpopo education spokesperson Advocate Franco Marx described the situation as particularly worrying for rural communities where schools and residential areas are far apart. The party said it will approach Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule‑Ramakhanya to seek assistance for the affected learners.
“We will approach the Education MEC to ensure these learners receive the scholar transport they qualify for,” the DA statement said.
Context: a provincial enquiry into scholar transport
The DA’s appeal comes after a two‑day public enquiry into scholar transport held at The Ranch Resort, which examined a range of problems affecting the provincial programme. According to the DA’s release, the enquiry heard evidence and submissions on:
- Insufficient number of vehicles and operators;
- Delays in appointing transport operators and ensuring operating licence compliance;
- Use of unsuitable vehicles and concerns about safety and roadworthiness;
- Coordination issues between education and transport departments and enforcement agencies.
Provincial departments and law enforcement participated in the enquiry. The Education MEC and Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye responded to concerns and made commitments to address shortcomings in the scholar transport system, the DA said.
Mathye said the responses and commitments made during the enquiry had “lit a path forward”, raising hope for a scholar transport system that is “compliant, smooth operating, safe and secure” for every learner travelling to and from school.
Immediate problem, promises for the future
For learners in Tiyani, the immediate issue is not long‑term reform but simply getting to class each morning and home again safely. The DA argues the provincial policy already provides a basis for relief: learners who live five kilometres or more from their registered school meet the distance criterion.
Parents and community members told the DA that children are fatigued on arrival and some have missed classes because of the long trek. The party asserts that the Department of Education must act quickly to arrange transport or temporary measures so pupils are not further disadvantaged.
What this means for families
When scholar transport is unavailable, families in rural areas face several consequences:
- Children lose study time and may arrive late or exhausted;
- Safety risks increase as learners walk long distances along busy or poorly lit roads;
- Parents may be unable to provide alternative transport due to financial constraints.
| Detail | Reported fact |
|---|---|
| Affected areas | New Look 1 and New Look 2, Tiyani village |
| Distance walked | More than 6 kilometres |
| Grades affected | Grade R to Grade 12 |
| Provincial eligibility threshold | 5 kilometres or more |
What to expect next
The DA has signalled it will take the matter to MEC Lerule‑Ramakhanya. The outcome will depend on the education department’s capacity to deploy vehicles or appoint operators quickly and whether temporary solutions — such as community‑organised lifts, adjusted school start times or interim transport contracts — can be authorised while systemic issues are addressed.
Parents and caregivers in Tiyani will be watching for an immediate response from the provincial education and transport authorities to prevent school attendance and learner safety from being further compromised.
Reporting note: Details in this report are drawn from a DA Limpopo press release dated 13 August and from public statements made during the recent provincial public enquiry into scholar transport.
