Speaking at the Randburg testing station in Johannesburg, she said there were 700 buses for the subsidised scholar transport programme. A total of 485 had been tested so far.

Most of the buses found to be unroadworthy had defective brakes, faulty steering mechanisms, and loose wires and bolts. The bus operators would be given two weeks for repairs and be allowed to undergo another test.

"When you take into account that we are transporting 50,000 learners in a day with 700 buses... we think our relatively safe records are because of this process," Creecy said.

"It helps us to identify where the wear and tear is on these vehicles."

She said there had not been any accidents involving the buses since the beginning of the year.

Creecy accompanied inspectors as buses were being tested at the station. She said the faulty buses were unacceptable as they were placing children's lives at risk.

When told about the defects of one of the buses she said the condition of the vehicle was unacceptable.

"Obviously from the side of the department, we are not getting any value for money... this is taxpayers' money that the service providers are getting."

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Mon May 20 01:25:01 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 5, 2012

Ubufebe

You will do all this now, then forget about it until the next lot of innocent people die on our roads again. Make it compulsory for these buses to be tested every 3 months then maybe we will get somewhere.
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Jul 5, 2012

MommaC

"Obviously from the side of the department, we are not getting any value for money... this is taxpayers' money that the service providers are getting."

The lives of 700 children is being gambled with and you worry about 'value for money'? How about worrying about 'value of young lives'?
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Jul 5, 2012

Ubufebe

@MommaC

I think you mean 50000 children and 700 buses?
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Jul 5, 2012

Papage

Please test Taxis as well, those at Bara Taxi Rank, Dobsonville, Alex, Tembisa, Voslo, Sprins, infect the whole Taxi industry is full of unroadworhty Taxis
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Jul 5, 2012

Mothata

majority of learners don't use buses, they use specials (taxis, privates and vans) and they always oveloded, most also not road worthy. Go Tsamaya in Mamelodi if you don't believe me. You'll find a city golf carying more than seven kids.
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Jul 5, 2012

Nicholaster

@Mothata, Golf with 7 passangers? But I don't hesitate to believe that because I had experience that in Soshanguve
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