Media Statement by Donald Grant, Minister of Education
On 24 August 2011, 14 learners and a bus driver drowned after the bus in which they were being transported left the road and subsequently submerged in a river in Rheenendal just outside Knysna. Forty-three learners survived the accident.
The bus, operated by JBS Transport CC t/a African Express (JBS Transport), was contracted by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to transport 65 learners in the area as part of the WCED learner transport scheme.
Two investigations into the cause of the accident were initiated by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Work and SAPS. The results of these investigations are yet to be released.
As details emerged following the accident, it became apparent to the WCED that certain terms and conditions of the service-level agreement entered into between the WCED and JBS Transport (the SLA) may not have been honoured.
Immediately following the accident, I instructed the WCED to conduct an investigation into the following:
2. The extent to which the instructions issued by the WCED to all concerned in respect of their responsibilities insofar as the WCED learner transport system is concerned were followed.
The WCED investigation did not focus on the possible causes or the precise sequence of the events at the scene of the accident. Understanding the causes and the sequence of events of the accident require technical findings currently being considered as part of the investigations of other agencies, including the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works and SAPS. Similarly, all aspects concerning the roadworthiness of the relevant vehicles and the compliance of JBS Transport and the relevant vehicle testing centres with applicable transport-related legislation and regulations are currently being conducted by the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works and, as such, have not been investigated by the WCED.
The following findings of the WCED were made after a full review of all relevant information collected by the WCED through a series of interviews with appropriate officials, school staff (including the school principal and his deputy), community members, members of the public and traffic authorities.
Findings:
After considering all information and documentation concerning the Rheenendal bus accident provided to and collected by the WCED, the WCED concluded that JBS Transport may have acted in breach of the SLA in that:
In addition, the WCED identified shortcomings in the monitoring and control of the learner transport service provided along the approved route in question.
Following the investigation by the WCED, a number of apparent shortcomings have been identified concerning:
Final Recommendations of and Actions Taken by the WCED:
Following the completion of the WCED investigation, I have been provided with sufficient information to endorse the recommendations made to me by the WCED.
The following recommendations were made to me and are currently being implemented with my approval by the WCED:
3. To improve the safety of learners who use transport provided by the WCED, the Head of the WCED has scheduled a compulsory information session for all district directors this week to ensure that they and their respective district offices are effectively monitoring:
6. To further improve the safety of learners who use transport provided by the WCED, the WCED will, in the coming months, conduct a full review of its existing learner transport system. This will be initiated once the investigation by the Department of Transport and Public Works has been completed.
Bronagh Casey
Spokesperson for Minister Grant
Cell: 072 724 1422
Tel: 021 467 2377