Learners in the Soutpansberg North circuit, Vhembe West, remain out of school this week as the scholar transport crisis deepens, with buses unavailable and fresh protests erupting.
On Wednesday, 11 February, pupils barricaded the Musekwa Rural Access Road (D3671) with rocks, tree branches, and debris, demanding urgent intervention from authorities. Residents say the unrest follows months of frustration over unsafe walking routes and broken buses.
Learners from Tshianane Secondary School say they were denied scholar transport because they live within five kilometres of the school. However, the route they must walk cuts through bush and isolated areas, raising serious safety concerns. One bus broke down last month, and the remaining vehicles were later removed by the service provider. Replacement buses promised on Monday, 9 February, had not arrived by midweek.
Some pupils in Pfumembe, who walk about 3.2 kilometres to school, have also demanded inclusion in the scholar transport programme. Previous resolutions required the school to identify eligible learners and submit their names to the district for additional transport support, but this has not yet happened.
Limpopo Department of Education spokesperson Mr Mike Maringa said a meeting had been held last week with the school and SGB members to address the issue. “We convened a meeting after the service provider moved the buses for safety reasons following incidents of stoning. In that meeting, it was agreed that the SGB and affected parents must coordinate and restore schooling. The school was also tasked with identifying eligible learners for additional support, but no submission has been received to date,” he said.