Thirteen young children from the informal settlement at Goliath Estate in Kraaifontein can now attend school again, thanks to a school transport project made possible by a local non-profit company Charitas and a local engineering company.
For the past seven years, Charitas has facilitated community development in the impoverished community of about 500 people just of Mosselbank Road.
Of the 100 school-going children at the settlement, 13 attend schools on the other side of the N1 in Scottsville and Scottsdene, about 5 km from their homes – a distance they had to walk after the education department stopped school transport about two years ago.
“Their parents could not afford transport so the children had to walk this dangerous road into gang areas on their own; in winter before the sun rises, sometimes in cold and raining weather. Because of these challenges many of the kids would then rather stay home and not attend school,” says Ria Breed from Charitas.
“The department informed the parents to place their children in the nearby schools of either Aristea or Fanie Theron Primary and Monument High School. These schools however were clear that there was no space for these children. We tried to convince the department to review the decision with no positive outcome,” she says.
“We even approached the Minister’s office at the Department of Education and was referred to the local district’s office in Kuils River. The district office said their hands are tied; they cannot force the schools to take the children in.”
With all avenues exhausted Charitas joined forces with Bellville engineering company, Pragma who funded a private school transport service to take and fetch the children to their various schools.
“This initiative ensures that these children attend school, and ensure that they write their exams at the end of the year – something that came as a great relief to parents and children.”
TygerBurger requested and is awaiting comment from the education department, who had not yet responded by the time of going to print.
