RUSTENBURG - The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has found that the North West scholar transport violates human rights.
The commission says this mostly affects pupils from poor and rural areas, as well as those living with disabilities.
The SAHRC released its report findings in Rustenburg on Monday.
"The Commission further found that systemic failures in the Scholar Transport Programme constitute violations of learners' constitutional rights, including the right to basic education, as learners are unable to access schooling in a safe, reliable and consistent manner,” it said.
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“The right to equality and human dignity, where learners are subjected to unsafe, undignified and unequal transport conditions. The right to safety and security of persons, given the exposure of learners to unsafe vehicles, overloading and lack of supervision. 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 further found that the impact of these failures falls disproportionately on poor and rural learners, as well as learners with disabilities.
Freddy Sonakile, North West Transport Committee Chairperson, said the report will need serious enforceability.
“It’s going to be a mammoth task but it comes at the right time,” said Sonakile.