The Western Cape Education Department says the SANTACO Western Cape minibus taxi strike, has resulted in 287 420 learners not being able to go to school today.

9 508 teachers and staff were also unable to reach schools.

MEC David Maynier says the metro education districts were most affected by absenteeism. Alternative transport was sporadic in many areas, including Khayelitsha, Harare, Nyanga and Du Noon.

Buses were also set alight, which made it very difficult for parents, children and teachers to go to work and school.

Aside from minibus taxis not running, the violence and chaos resulted in parents keeping children home out of fear for their safety, even if they do not normally travel on public transport.

Maynier says the the Department will not tolerate incidents where learners are prevented from accessing education.

We want to make it clear that if we see any acts of intimidation of learners travelling to school, or of our contracted Learner Transport Scheme busses, we will not hesitate to approach the court for another interdict against the minibus taxi associations.

Maynier expressed concern as matrics are currently preparing for their trial exams.

The sudden implementation of the strike on Thursday afternoon also meant that some learners, teachers and staff were stranded.

Leaving children, especially our youngest learners, stranded is unforgiveable.

Maynier remarked how the school community rallied to help some of the learners who had been stranded.

Mowbray residents rallied together to assist 11 learners from Thandokhulu High School who were stranded last night, by providing food and sleeping materials.

Four learners from Silverlea Primary School and Garlandale High School, who live in Khayelitsha, could not make it home, so WCED officials put them up in a guest house and arranged meals and toiletries for them.

At Noluthando School for the Deaf, 16 learners could not travel home out of Khayelitsha, so the school arranged for them to spend the night at a teacher’s house.

Wynberg Girls High opened their hostel to learners and staff who could not make it home yesterday. 15 learners and 5 security guards spent the night safely in the hostel.

I have no doubt that we will hear more of these stories in the coming days, and I thank our schools, parents, staff and school communities for their support for our learners.

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