|
MEC severs school bus contacts
25/07/2006 12:44 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Gauteng education MEC Angie Motshekga is ending her department's contract with JCJ bus operators.
"I had enough of bus operators who hold us hostage and negotiate with us in bad faith," said Motshekga in a statement.
Her spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi said JCJ had indicated it intended to withdraw more than 40 buses, "thus rendering 18 of Gauteng department of education schools ineffective".
He said the MEC would bring a court interdict against JCJ and withdraw the contract offered to it.
"JCJ bus operators have refused to sign the contract with Gauteng department of education since the beginning of this year," said Lesufi.
He said the department had paid JCJ R522 000 on July 18 for areas in which it had a contract.
School transport operators have been in dispute with the department over the payment of R4 million which they said they were owed.
Urgent education meeting
Earlier on Monday, director of the SA Bus Operators' Association Eric Cornelius confirmed school transport was almost back to normal following the payment of "about 90%" of outstanding payments.
Motshekga summoned her senior managers to an urgent meeting to address "the wave of serious setbacks" facing her department on Monday.
"This follows a series of events, starting with the non-payment of (school bus) operators, (the) finding of ghost teachers in schools, (the) chaotic march by Cosas (the Congress of SA Students) as well as (the) suspending of senior managers in the Soweto district office," read a departmental press release.
Motshekga will address the media on Wednesday.
She will also discuss a memorandum by Cosas and "shocking statements by learners on SABC's programme, Special Assignment".
Cosas had protested against school transport operators on Friday. It said the operators failed to ferry schoolchildren because R14 million owed to them had not been paid into their accounts.
- SAPA
|
News
