Nearly R2bn needed to address KZN scholar transport woes
The Department of Transport in KZN says it needs more than R2 billion to fully address the backlog in scholar transport services.
MEC Siboniso Duma appeared before the KZN Transport Portfolio Committee, where he outlined the department’s financial challenges.
He says the scholar programme has supported over 77,000 pupils in more than 400 schools in the province over the past year.
He says another 230,000 scholars remain on the waiting list.
The MEC has explained that learners who walk three kilometres to the nearest school qualify for subsidised transport.
He says with demand rising, the current scholar transport budget of R341 million for the 2025/26 financial year is nowhere near enough.
" We've met MEC for Education, MEC for Finance as well, to discuss these challenges. Apart from preparing and presenting a report before cabinet, we agreed to convene a series of meetings with key stakeholders in the education sector.
"We want to ensure that we explain our challenges to our operator, school governing bodies, organised labour communicators, civil society, and other key stakeholders."
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