Walking to or from school has become a daunting challenge for many pupils.
Being vulnerable to crime is no longer the main concern for these children making their way through our suburbs and streets. The focus has now shifted to inconsiderate taxi drivers and motorists who put their lives in danger.
“The taxis are a law unto their own,” said Boskop Primary School principal, Rita van der Hoek. She added that taxi drivers had no regard for the scholar patrol whose priority it was to make sure children could cross safely at Beyers Naudé Drive and Blueberry Road. “The pipeline being laid at the intersection has definitely worsened the problem.
“We have had five or six incidents in the last two years where members of our scholar patrol narrowly escaped with their lives after unruly and impatient taxis almost drove into them,” continued Van der Hoek. “We are just grateful that no one has been injured thus far. For me, their lives are more precious than anything.”
These taxis are not the allocated minibuses that transport schoolchildren.
“It’s the every-day taxis using Beyers [Naudé Drive] and Blueberry Road, who think they are above the law when they drive in emergency lanes and skip traffic lights,” said Van der Hoek.
Panorama principal, Graham Moodie said his school has had minimal issues with his pupils experiencing crime of late. “But we are, however, very concerned for the children when it comes to the vast amount of traffic we have to endure in Albert Road [where the school is located],” he said.
“The children simply aren’t even noticed by impatient motorists. Taxis add to the problem greatly.”
Other schools questioned on the matter, Maragon, Weltevreden Park Primary and Agape Christian School, said they had experienced very few problems with vehicles in recent years.
“Children are always signed out before they can leave and are constantly supervised,” said deputy principal of Agape Christian School, Theresa Jennings.
