Patensie High has been shut down by parents at Ramaphosa village following years of transport issues which have seen some pupils walk about 10km to get to school.
Some of the parents have now vowed to shut down all primary schools in the town if a promise to provide scholar transport from Monday is not fulfilled.
One of the town’s ward councillors, Amos Mabukane, said it was a shame as the parents came from a village named after President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana came to a meeting last year with parents, the school governing body and principal.
“Tikana told us there was no money for scholar transport and parents should wait until April,” Mabukane said.
The issue dated back to 2014, he said.
“Since then, the children of farm workers have been expected to walk to school.
“More than 200 of these children are registered at the school and half of this number is not catered for by the department of transport.”
Citrus farm worker Jonathan Campher, 39, said parents had decided to shut down the school on January 11.
He said only two of his children were allowed to get on the bus as seats were limited.
“The youngest in grade 8 is always unable to do so. This is very frustrating to watch as a parent. Instead, all three children now walk to school.”
He said they had to wake up early, often arriving at the school only at about 10am.
“They are missing tests and other important subjects.
“All we want to hear is that the department will provide transport,” he said.
Principal Cecil Madeley said the shutdown arose from frustration but it was nevertheless a setback academically. “We are an agricultural school and we have more than 600 pupils enrolled for 2019. There are 232 pupils who live on farms.”
He said only 111 of the 232 pupils were given lifts by the department of transport.
“Most of those not being transported are grade 8 pupils.
He said some parents paid up to R500 a month in 2018 to get their children to school.
“These farm workers can no longer afford to do so and they refuse to have the situation continue.”
Madeley said on Friday he had received a telephone call from a transport co-ordinator confirming his appointment to provide scholar transport.
“She said she would be available to transport the 121 pupils from Monday morning.”
When asked whether the school would be opened following the meeting, Madeley said he could only hope so.
Transport spokesperson Khuselwa Rantjie said the department had not received an application from the education department for transport but had been trying to resolve the issue.
Another citrus farm worker, who did not want to be named, said parents would see if transport was provided.
“If the scholar transport is not running on Monday, we will shut down all the primary schools.”