SCHOOL children, some just six-years-old, are braving dark and chilly mornings to make a 5km walk to school every day.
That is the only way the children of families evicted from privately-owned land in Parsonsvlei in Kabega Park are able to make their way to St Albans Primary School just outside Port Elizabeth.
Since their eviction three weeks ago the children, now living in prefab housing in Malabar, walk to a bus stop in Cape Road next to Makro, a trip they say leaves them exhausted and unable to concentrate properly in class.
Pupil Wayne Hendricks, 15, says he loves school, but getting there is starting to take its toll.
"We have to be up before 5.30am. We walk together in a group and cover a distance of 5km every morning to get to the bus stop.
"The three bigger children look after the little ones. When we get to the stop our legs are lame from walking," he said.
A total of 17 boys and girls embark on the journey every morning.
Winston Potgieter, 9, said he and his seven-year-old brother were scared because Bramlin Street was still dark at that time of the morning and they are afraid of being mugged.
"We walk every morning and when we get into the classroom we are already tired and cannot focus and concentrate," Winston said.
Following a court order handed down in September last year, the 54 families, some of whom had been living in the area, were taken to Malabar and set up in an area which has no electricity or shops.
Their new homes are prefabricated structures set on top of bricks and tied down with wire.
Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said in terms of the order, the municipality was compelled to arrange alternative land for the people, who were relocated to Malabar in February.
"This is a tricky matter. The issue of scholar transport falls within the ambit of the education department," Mniki said.
At the settlement early on Friday morning, parents were busy preparing the children for school.
As the children started the walk to the bus stop some parents followed behind, making the walk with them.
The parents expressed concern about their new living arrangements and said they were isolated from everything.
Esme Daniels, 28, a mother of two, said the transport situation had become a nightmare.
"I have two children. One is in Grade 1 and the other in Grade 4. It's not safe for them to walk and it's dark that time of the morning. This is why we as parents decided to take turns to escort them to the taxis," said Daniels.
Daily 5km walk for education takes toll on kids
SCHOOL children, some just six-years-old, are braving dark and chilly mornings to make a 5km walk to school every day.
That is the only way the children of families evicted from privately-owned land in Parsonsvlei in Kabega Park are able to make their way to St Albans Primary School just outside Port Elizabeth.
Since their eviction three weeks ago the children, now living in prefab housing in Malabar, walk to a bus stop in Cape Road next to Makro, a trip they say leaves them exhausted and unable to concentrate properly in class.
Pupil Wayne Hendricks, 15, says he loves school, but getting there is starting to take its toll.
"We have to be up before 5.30am. We walk together in a group and cover a distance of 5km every morning to get to the bus stop.
"The three bigger children look after the little ones. When we get to the stop our legs are lame from walking," he said.
A total of 17 boys and girls embark on the journey every morning.
Winston Potgieter, 9, said he and his seven-year-old brother were scared because Bramlin Street was still dark at that time of the morning and they are afraid of being mugged.
"We walk every morning and when we get into the classroom we are already tired and cannot focus and concentrate," Winston said.
Following a court order handed down in September last year, the 54 families, some of whom had been living in the area, were taken to Malabar and set up in an area which has no electricity or shops.
Their new homes are prefabricated structures set on top of bricks and tied down with wire.
Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said in terms of the order, the municipality was compelled to arrange alternative land for the people, who were relocated to Malabar in February.
"This is a tricky matter. The issue of scholar transport falls within the ambit of the education department," Mniki said.
At the settlement early on Friday morning, parents were busy preparing the children for school.
As the children started the walk to the bus stop some parents followed behind, making the walk with them.
The parents expressed concern about their new living arrangements and said they were isolated from everything.
Esme Daniels, 28, a mother of two, said the transport situation had become a nightmare.
"I have two children. One is in Grade 1 and the other in Grade 4. It's not safe for them to walk and it's dark that time of the morning. This is why we as parents decided to take turns to escort them to the taxis," said Daniels.
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