By Transport Policy and Economic Regulation Branch DEPT OF TRANSPORT BRIEFING ON SCHOLAR TRANSPORT TO THE PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT By Transport Policy and Economic Regulation Branch 14 September 2010

PRESENTATION OUTLINE Current status of scholar transport in South Africa Proposed National Scholar Transport policy Way forward

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT Absence of a uniform national policy framework; Regulation of Scholar Transport is fragmented e.g. Unroadworthy vehicles, Unlicensed drivers and illegal operators; disintegrated law enforcement; Funding mechanism is fragmented e.g. different payment mechanisms in provinces; Minimal research on the conveyance of school children in light delivery vehicles to and from school; National Road Traffic Act of 1996 prohibits conveyance of people in light delivery vehicles for commercial purposes; Problems with timeous payment to service providers and entry into the industry not clear;

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT Function currently reside with both Depts of Basic Education and Transport respectively; Some provinces are in the process of migrating functions from BDOE to DOT. Research findings of National Household Travel survey indicate that: 16 million scholars attend school The vast majority of scholars 76 % (12,1 million) walk to school ; 30 % (3.6 million) of scholars travel time to school is more than 30 minutes; KZN has high percentage of walkers and to a lesser degree in EC, MP and NW and 560 000 scholars walk more than one hour one way;

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT Car travel and taxis are most frequently used; Busses have some patronage in metropolitan and urban areas; Trains are seldom used in metropolitan and urban areas; Public transport provides only 13 % of all school trips; Usage of public transport for schooling purposes differs from province to province; Urban provinces have the highest usage of public transport and the rural provinces are the lowest; Nelson Mandela Foundation study highlights scholar transport issues as acute is rural areas; CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PROVINCE PDOT PDOE GAUTENG Migration of scholar transport function is in the process of being concluded and PDOT has re-aligned organizational structure by approving the new Scholar Transport Directorate PDOE MEC agreed in principle with MEC PDOT to assume total control of scholar transport function. NORTH WEST Function and budget is with PDOT and was successfully migrated from PDOE. PDOT designes routes and appointed service providers

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PROVINCE PDOT PDOE EASTERN CAPE Awaiting for provincial legislature to provide policy direction The scholar transport function is currently with PDOE. NORTHERN CAPE MEC PDOE & PDOT agreed on the migration of function to PDOT Task team formed to work on the process of migration The scholar transport function is with PDOE.

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PROVINCE PDOT PDOE WESTERN CAPE Awaiting for DOT to conclude policy development process The function is still with PDOE LIMPOPO Function reside with with PDOE.

CURRENT STATUS OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PROVINCE PDOT PDOE KWAZULU-NATAL The scholar transport function resides with PDOE FREE STATE The scholar transport function reside with with PDOE. MPUMALANGA The scholar transport function and budget is managed by PDOT The scholar transport function has been migrated to PDOT

PROPOSED NATIONAL SCHOLAR TRANSPORT POLICY Background ; Vision and Mission; Policy and Legislative Context; Policy Statements ; Implementation framework and Key priority areas for policy implementation.

BACKGROUND DOT Strategic Plan gave impetus for development of national scholar transport policy ; Task teams formed – DOT internal & provincial transport depts.; Two workshops were held on Scholar Transport 1st - to introduce policy process . Presentations were made by various stakeholders such as SABOA , Taxi Industry, School Governing Bodies, Disability organisations, Commuter organisations, etc on the expectations of the policy. 2nd workshop was to present the draft policy to key stakeholders took place.

BACKGROUND Strategic meetings with DBOE took place and are still ongoing; Various work sessions with different stakeholders led to the development of the draft policy; Provincial stakeholder consultations took place; and DG and Deputy Minister of DOT have approved for policy development process to be concluded & to approach DOT Minister to engage DBOE Minister to make presentations in Cabinet .

VISION To ensure the provision of scholar transport service that caters for the needs of scholars MISSION The mobility needs of scholars shall be met through the provision of a safe, secure, reliable and affordable scholar transport services to support social development and future economic growth

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR SCHOLAR TRANSPORT To develop a uniform national scholar transport policy framework; To ensure transport as a catalyst for education through access to schools; To promote non-motorized transport in a safe and secure circumstances; To promote scholar transport within the main modes of public transport; To ensure he provision of safe and secure scholar transport services

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR SCHOLAR TRANSPORT To provide for the design of a route network that caters scholar transport needs; To ensure the procurement and formalisation of scholar transport services; To ensure sustainable and equitable funding for the provision of scholar transport services; To monitor and evaluate scholar transport services; To ensure the provision of infrastructure

POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT Section 85 (2) (b) of the Constitution mandates the Department of Transport the role of developing and implementing scholar transport policy The policy is guided by the White Paper on National Transport Policy of 1996 and other legislations such as NLTA of 2009 , NRTA of 1996. Other relevant legislations are Public Transport Strategy of 2007 and National Land Transport Strategic Framework.

POLICY STATEMENTS INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND GOVERNANCE; DOT has the ultimate responsibility to provide scholar transport given its mandate. Key roles in the provision of scholar transport and Structures that must perform these roles: DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL POLICY •DOT will develop and review national policy after consultation with relevant stakeholders.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… PLANNING AND CORDINATION OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PDOT must develop implementation strategies and plans in consultation with PDOE and other key stakeholders. Strategies and Plans must be included in PLTF, Strategic Plans, ITP, of local government. Provincial Plans must recognize provincial cross border services where relevant REGULATION OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT DOT must regulate any issue of relevance to scholar transport provision to ensure efficiency

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… FUNDING DOT will fund scholar transport through scholar transport subsidy. REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF OPERATORS DOT Registrar Office and Operating License Boards must register and license scholar transport operators. Management of database of all registered and licensed scholar transport operators.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… CONTRACTING OF SERVICES AND TENDERING PDOT to ensure that scholar transport service are procured through tender process required by government legislation. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ENSURING ROAD SAFETY PDOT must work closely with local government to ensure compliance regarding safe transportation of scholars. PDOT through traffic law enforcement officials ensure compliance to traffic legislation. DOT in conjuction with RTMC should promote road safety through existing programmes to educate scholars

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… BENEFICIARIES FOR SCHOLAR TRANSPORT SUBSIDY DOT after consultation with DOE will identify qualifying scholars in line with the identified criteria. Scholar principals and SGB’s to play a significant role in the identification of qualifying scholars. Criteria include: Grade R-12 scholars, +3km distance from school etc. DOT will provide subsidies to all qualifying scholars in dedicated transport and those in mainstream public transport.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING SYSTEM DOT and its provincial counterparts (PDOT) must manage implementation of scholar transport through dedicated components. PDOT must establish planning committee with representatives of the PDOE. The annual planning cycle of such committee to include: Data collection - February Design of services-March-June Preparation of budget inputs-July Submission of budget-August Call for tenders-September Appointment of successful tender/operator-November Provision for monitoring of services-November-December Implementation of scholar transport provision-January

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… INTERGRATION ISSUES Scholar transport must be integrated into the broader physical and planning environment. Intergovernmental co-ordination must ensure integration of land use and transport. PDOT must ensure integration of scholar transport services with the broader public transport system. PDOT must ensure that scholar transport services is accessible to scholars in urban and rural areas. Intergovernmental co-ordination must ensure that adequate infrastructure is provided. Scholar Transport infrastructure plans must be incorporated into Integrated Transport Plans (ITP’s)

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… ECONOMIC REGULATION OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT All scholar transport service providers must have operating licenses in addition to any other services licensed for. Where a province prescribes a dedicated service, operating licenses must issued in terms thereof. PDOT in consultation with PDOE and other stakeholders must design scholar transport services. Designs should contain detailed route descriptions, vehicle types, timetables, travel time, stops etc. Procurement of service to be in line with legislation and policies promoting SMME’s and BBBEE. Contract duration must be similar to stipulations of Model Tender Contract document.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… Payment of scholar transport must use revenue per km as a basis for remuneration. PDOT must determine the type of service appropriate for their areas. PDOT in consultation with PDOE Must determine access criteria in terms of age, distance from school, affordability etc. PDOT in consultation with PDOE must ensure adequate safety and security whilst scholars are in transit.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… QUALITY REGULATION OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT PDOT to ensure quality safety standards. Ensure that service standards meet expected objectives. LAW ENFORCEMENT A need to ensure proper policing PDOT must provide enough traffic officer’s and inspectors.

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… FUNDING OF SCHOLAR TRANSPORT Funding is critical to ensure ongoing rendering of services. DOT to ensure adequate and sustainable funding through its own budget. EMPOWERMENT AND OPERATOR DEVELOPMENT Support and empowerment of BBBEE and SMME operators through development programmes: Formalisation of scholar transport operators Sub contracting SMME’s consortium Joint ventures

POLICY STATEMENTS CONT… IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK Emergency procedure , training and qualification. Vehicle specifications. Criteria for driver and operator certification. Code of conduct for drivers and scholars. Provision for scholar transport living with disabilities. Monitoring and evaluation

KEY PRIORITY AREAS FOR IMPLEMENTATION Migration of scholar transport functions from DOBE to DOT ; Formalisation of scholar transport industry; Identification of subsidy mechanism; Development of provincial implementation plans and strategies and Implementation of institutional arrangements.

WAY FORWARD Meeting between DOT Minister and DOBE Minister to finalise policy development process to take place; Advise on the policy direction regarding the ongoing migration of scholar transport functions from DOBE to DOT; Submission of draft policy in Cabinet clusters and gazetting of policy for public participation and ; Implementation of scholar transport policy.

THANK YOU

CONTACTS MR NGWAKO MAKAEPEA ACTING CHIEF DIRECTOR TRANSPORT POLICY ANALYSIS CHIEF DIRECTORATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPROT TEL: 012 309 3541 FAX: 012 309 3031 Cell: 078 804 3117 E-MAIL: makaepen@dot.gov.za